11 August 2020

Embargo: For Immediate Release

Attention: News/Assignment Editors, Political Reporters, Reporters

From: KZN Legislature Communications Unit

RE: AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE REFUTES DA STATEMENT MISREPRESENTING COMMITTEE DELIBERATIONS

The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Honourable Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha has learnt with shock and dismay about the sensational statement issued by the Democratic Alliance’s committee member Honourable Chris Pappas.

Committee members were shocked that Hon Pappas had released a statement even before the committee could take resolutions on the matter.

Earlier today Agriculture and Rural Development Portfolio Committee held a joint meeting with Community Safety Portfolio Committee to receive a report from the South African Police Services’ Rural Safety Strategy.

Department of Community Safety was led by MEC Bheki Ntuli accompanied by SAPS’ General Jula and Brigadier Kheswa. Both the department and SAPS explained in detail challenges facing rural communities including farm labour tenants and both black and white farmers.

The meeting was convened by Honourable Sibhidla-Saphetha in her capacity as the Chairperson of Agriculture and Rural Development and Honourable Mthethwa who is the Chairperson of Community Safety Portfolio Committee. Mthethwa was unable to attend because of other commitments but Members of the Community Safety Portfolio Committee were in attendance.

The Committee has resolved to institute an investigation into the conduct of Honourable Pappas for violating the Legislature’s standing Rules.

Rule 153 clearly states that only the Chairperson of a committee may make media statement and broadcast or internet and other electronic publications on behalf of a committee.

The Rule further adds that Media Statements, broadcasts, internet or other electronic publications, whether made by the Chairperson pursuant to sub-rule(1) or by individual Members may not:

i) Misrepresent any proceedings or reports of a committee or any documents, evidence, submissions or information before a committee or the views of other Members; or

ii) Purport to represent the views or a report of a committee where it does not.

Committee Members were shocked at Pappas’ misrepresentations of the committee deliberations including his assertion that “the DA is pleased to have the support of the SAPS in its campaign to declare farm murders a hate crime”.

The committee has resolved to investigate the contents of Pappas’ statement and take appropriate action. Once the committee has taken resolutions on this matter it will make these available to the public.

Ends

Issued by the Chairperson of the KZN Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development Hon NN Sibhidla-Saphetha Cell No: 0833013622 or Mr Wonder Hlongwa at 0829083532.

KZN Legislature takes a lead in the digitalisation of its operations to meet the 4th IR challenges

The Legislature has introduced a Mobile Application (App) to digitalise our operations in line with our 2019 – 2024 Strategic Plan to transform the entire institution into a paperless environment. All Members of the Legislature have been provided with new mobile devices such as tablets where the App has been installed to enable the Members and staff to have easy access to the Legislature information wherever they are all the time.

Some important information that is available on the App include the annual calendar of Legislature activities, weekly schedule of committee meetings and sittings, documents for committee meetings and House Sittings, Strategic Plans (SP) and Annual Performance Plans (APPs) of the Legislature and provincial departments, Policy speeches, Budget speeches, SONA and SOPA, National Parliament and National Government information, Bills and Acts to mention but a few.
Training on the use of the mobile application will be conducted throughout the institution to enable the Members and staff to be conversant with the App to ensure that our institution becomes a completely digital environment.

The introduction of the mobile application aims to ensure that the KZN Legislature is able to keep up with the challenges posed by the 4th Industrial Revolution and that we use technology to work smarter and improve our productivity and efficiencies.

MEDIA STATEMENT

07 JULY 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE IN THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE– HONORABLE NJABULO RICARDO MTHEMBU

The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature mourns the passing of the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Portfolio Committee Chairperson; Honorable Njabulo Ricardo Mthembu. Honorable Mthembu joined the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature after the 2019 National and Provincial Government Elections. The news of Honorable Mthembu’s passing has been received with great sadness by the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature.

Paying tribute, Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Nontembeko Boyce said we were still expecting a lot from him having served in the local government for 8 years.

“I would like to express our great sadness on behalf of the Legislature. Our sincere and deepest condolences go out to his family, his party the African National Congress, the KZN Legislature Family and the people of KwaZulu-Natal”. Added Boyce

Honorable Mthembu was appointed as Chairperson of the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in 2019 following the National and Provincial elections, He worked tirelessly to ensure accountability of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

“Honorable Mthembu understood the importance of the oversight responsibility on the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Portfolio Committee as a legislator and carried out its responsibilities with dignity”. Said Boyce

He also contributed greatly not only to ensuring that the department fulfils its mandate, but to the efforts to ensure improved delivery of services to communities.

His contribution will be dearly missed by all of us. May his soul rest in internal peace.

ISSUED BY THE KWAZULU-NATAL LEGISLATURE OFFICE OF THE SPEAKER

For more information contact:
Nomusa Phungula
Office of the Speaker Media Liaison
071 851 0085/ 072 294 7237