Issued by: Commission on the Remuneration of Representatives
PRESS RELEASE BY THE SECRETARY OF THE COMMISSION ON REMUNERATION OF REPRESENTATIVES
1. The Commission on the Remuneration of Representatives has been reconstituted. President Mandela has announced the appointment of a new Chairperson, Mr Justice Jan Steyn, a former Judge of the Cape Supreme Court. Judge Steyn is also a former Chairman of the Urban Foundation and of the Independent Development Trust. He is presently a Judge of the Courts of Appeal of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. He succeeds Mr Justice H W Levy whose term of Office expired on 31 December 1995.
The other members of the Commission are:
Mr D C Brink Chief Executive of Sankorp Mr T N Chapman Chairman of Southern Life Ms C September Vice-President of Cosatu Dr M A Ramphele Vice-Chancellor Elect of the University of Cape Town The Reverend C V Jones Provincial Director of the Independent Development Trust Mr A S Nkonyeni Former President of NAFCOC
2. In terms of the Constitution, the Commission shall make recommendations to the President regarding the nature, extent and conditions of the remuneration and allowances of all elected legislative bodies of the National Government and of Provincial and Local Governments, including members of the Provincial Houses of Traditional Leaders and the Council of Traditional Leaders.
The brief of the Commission was extended to include all traditional leaders within the ambit of its mandate.
3. Since the appointment of the original Commission in 1995, four meetings were conducted during which the Commission did the spade-work to get itself acquainted with its task. The Commission was, during this period, briefed by the previous Minister for Provincial Affairs and Constitutional Development, the Minister of Finance and Prof R T Nhlapo to obtain clarity on certain aspects of its brief. An interim report of the Commission as originally constituted, was approved recently and will be submitted to the Speakers of Parliament and of Provincial Legislatures shortly.
4. At its meeting today (19 March 1996), the Commission resolved to invite persons/organisations/institutions to submit written proposals on the remuneration of all elected representatives and of traditional leaders. The elected representatives as defined include a member of the National Assembly, the Senate, any provincial legislature, any elected local government bodies as contemplated by the Local Government Transition Act, 1993 (Act No 209 of 1993), a Provincial House of Traditional Leaders or the Council of Traditional Leaders, an Executive Deputy President, a Minister, a Deputy Minister, a Premier of a Province, a Member of the Executive Council of a Province and traditional leaders who in terms of indigenous law or any other law hold a position in a traditional ruling hierarchy. Proposals should focus on salaries, allowances and other benefits (including pension, medical aid and any form of life insurance). Submissions should be addressed to Mr I Olivier, Secretary, Commission on Remuneration of Representatives, Private Bag X1000, Cape Town, 8000 to reach him not later than 19 April 1996. Hand-delivered submissions could also be delivered to the Secretary of the Commission at Room 113, Good Hope Building, Stalplein, Cape Town before the cut-off date mentioned above.
5. The Commission also resolved:
5.1 To appoint sub-committees. The convenors of the various sub-committees are:
Pensions: The Revd Colin Jones Research: Dr Mamphela Ramphele Tenders: Mr Dave Brink Traditional Leaders: Mr Archie Nkonyeni
The Chairperson, together with members of the Commission, will assume responsibility for such hearings as may be required to ensure that public participation takes place and that issues that require elucidation are publicly canvassed. Hearing will be open to the public and the dates of such hearings will be announced in due course.
5.2 The normal procedures for the invitation and approval of tenders will be put at hand.
5.3 The Commission's Report will be submitted to the President before th end of the year. Interim reports, if appropriate, may be submitted from time to time.
26 March 1996