| Type of parliamentary body |
Specialized |
| Nature |
Permanent |
| Related to chambers |
National Assembly
National Council of Provinces
|
| Date of creation |
12 March 1996 |
| Last renewal date |
|
| Mandate |
Functions The Committee must:
a) monitor and evaluate progress in improvement in the quality of life and status of women in South Africa, with specific reference to the government's commitments:
(i) to the Beijing Platform for Action;
ii) to the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; and
iii) to any other applicable international instruments; and
(b) make recommendations to both or either of the houses, or any joint or house committee, on any matter arising from paragraph (a) or (b). |
| Membership |
The Committee has 22 members. On 26 May 2004, in the National Assembly, and on 1 June 2004, in the National Council of Provinces, the following motion was agreed to: notwithstanding Joint Rules 129 and 132B and subject to the concurrence of the National Council of Provinces, until further notice the composition of the Joint Monitoring Committee on the Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women will be nine upper house members and 13 lower house members [African National Congress (8), Democratic Alliance (2), Inkatha Freedom Party (1), and other parties (2)].
Composition by sex: 3 men (13.7%) ; 19 women (86.3%). |
| Working methods |
8.1.1) Agenda items are selected based on a decision of the Committee. Members may propose items. Topical issues may be chosen, and the Committee may decide to call for hearings or provide input to topical bills before Parliament.
8.1.2) Parliament may also refer documents to the Committee for report.
8.1.3) The Committee supplies Parliament with reports to communicate findings and recommendations emanating from meetings or public hearings in Parliament or from monitoring visits to and hearings in the provinces.
8.2) Committee powers: The Joint Rules provide that, for the purposes of performing its functions a joint committee may, subject to the constitution, legislation, other provisions of the Joint Rules and resolutions of the two houses:
(a) summon any person to appear before it to give evidence on oath or affirmation, or to produce documents;
(b) receive petitions, representations or submissions from interested persons or institutions;
(c) conduct public hearings
(d) permit oral evidence, including evidence on petitions, representations and submissions;
(e) determine its own procedure;
(f) meet at a venue determined by it, which may be beyond the seat of Parliament;
(g) meet on any day and at any time, including:
(i) on a day which is not a working day
(ii) on a day on which a house or both houses are not sitting;
(iii) at a time when a house or both houses are sitting; or
(iv) during a recess of a house or both houses; and
(i) exercise any other powers assigned to it by the constitution, legislation, the other provisions of the Joint Rules or resolutions adopted in both houses.
8.3) Decisions: a question before the Committee is decided when there is agreement among the majority of members.
8.4) Committee reports: see point 5 under this heading.
REPORTING TO HOUSES
In terms of the Joint Rules:
1) A joint committee must report to both houses on a matter referred to it:
a) when the houses are to decide the matter in terms of:
(i) the Joint Rules;
ii) the respective House Rules;
(iii)a resolution adopted in both houses; or
(iv) legislation;
(b) if the committee has taken a decision on the matter, whether or not the houses are to decide the matter as contemplated in paragraph (a); or
c) if the committee is unable to decide a matter referred to it for report purposes.
(2) A joint committee must report to both houses on:
(a) all other decisions taken by it, except those concerning its internal business; and
(b) its activities at least once per year.
(3) A report of a joint committee:
(a) must be submitted to a house by the co-chairperson of the committee who is a member of that house, or by another member of the committee who is a member of that house and designated by the committee; and
(b) may request that the co-chairperson, or another member of the committee who is a member of the relevant house and designated by the committee, introduces or explains the report in the house
(4) A joint committee may not submit a minority report except where provided for in these rules.
(5) If a joint committee reports on a matter other than one mentioned in sub-rule (1) (a) and is of the view that its report, or a specific matter mentioned in the report, should be considered by the houses, it may make a request to that effect in the report.
FUNCTIONING:
The Committee's annual budget comes from the parliamentary budget.Staff support:·
- Secretary to chairperson (1);
- Committee Secretary (1);
- Committee Assistant (shared with other committees); Research support: research requested via the Parliamentary Research Unit.
DIFFICULTIES FACING THE COMMITTEE:
Cooperation from men-inside and outside of Parliament. |
| Relations with other parliamentary bodies |
The Committee may confer with other committees. At present, the Committee cooperates with several other committees on a Parliamentary Equality Review Campaign. Committee chairpersons meet regularly and cooperate in conducting public hearings. Some of the hearings are held at Parliament, and some in the provinces. The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women has just completed provincial monitoring visits to two provinces, and has contributed to the Parliamentary Equality Review Campaign by gathering information and reporting to its task team. |
| Relations with external bodies |
The Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women and the Commission on Gender Equality are partners in the national gender machinery. |
| Subjects dealt with |
Gender mainstreaming, gender equality and equity.
Reports:
- Evaluation of the Implementation of the National Gender Policy Framework in Offices on the Status of Women and in Local Government Departments (November 2006).
- Report on a monitoring visit to Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces (October 2005) with a focus on the Domestic Violence Act (116 of 1998) and the Maintenance Act (99 of 1998).
- Joint Monitoring Committee on Improving the Quality of Life and Status of Women on Appropriation Bill [B 2-2006] (October 2005) with a focus on the Domestic Violence Act (116 of 1998) and the Maintenance Act (99 of 1998).
- Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of the Quality of Life and Status of Women on Budget Vote 1: Presidency, for 2006. |
| CONTACT INFORMATION |
| Main address |
Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of Quality of Life and Status of Women
PO Box 15
Cape Town, 8001
Republic of South Africa |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRESIDING OFFICER(S)
|
| Name |
Ms. M.R. Morutoa |
| Notes |
Chairperson |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+27 21 403 2561; 27 21 403 3768 |
| Fax |
+27 21 403 3597; 27 21 403 2808 |
| E-mail |
kdavids@parliament.gov.za;
spauw@parliament.gov.za
|
| Website |
|
| Name |
Ms. N.F. Mazibuko |
| Notes |
Deputy Chairperson |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+27 21 403 28 67 |
| Fax |
+27 21 403 2004; 27 21 403 2854 |
| E-mail |
nmazibuko@parliament.gov.za
|
| Website |
|
|
SECRETARY
|
| Name |
Ms. Ayanda Boss |
| Notes |
Secretary to Chairperson |
| Address (if different from above) |
|
| Phone |
+27 21 403 3782 |
| Fax |
+27 21 403 3597 |
| E-mail |
aboss@parliament.gov.za |
| web site: |
|
| Notes |
Date information received: 23 November 2006; updated on 5 November 2008 |
