Issued by: North West Communication Service
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME 1996
1. Acts approved by the North West Legislature
In 1994 24 Bills were considered and approved by the North West Provincial Legislature. It was necessary to legislate speedily so as to provide the North West Government with the required authority to deal with the administration of the North West Province. Secondly it was expedient to amend and coordinate the existing Cape and Transvaal Provincial Administration and also the Bophuthatswana legislation.
In 1995 16 Bills were approved by the North West Legislature, it was a continuation of the 1994 exercise, but in addition the former Bophuthatswana administration laws had to be amended so as to enable the North West Government to appoint boards in line with the Interim Constitution which demands transparency consultation and accountability.
1996 can therefore be regarded as the year from which most legislation had been put into place for the smooth running of Government Departments. It is therefore not shocking that the number of Bills which were approved by the North West Legislatur it should also be pointed out that the number of Acts approved by Legislature should not necessarily be treated as the sole measuring mechanism of the amount of work conducted by such an institution. The four Acts which were approved by the Legislature are reasonable illustration as follows :-
1.1 North West Provincial Adjustment Appropriation Act 1996, approved on 08 March 1996. Consultations were carried out between the Departments, Committees and Treasury to adjust the already approved budget of 1995/96. This is a necessary exercise which ensures that Government expenditure remains within the overall allocation/s and that approved unforseen and unavoidable expenditure of the closing financial year are included within that Budget.
1.2 North West Appropriation Act 1996 also commonly known as the Government Budget 1996/97. During 1996 the Standing Committees were now in full force and were able to carry out the required consultations and public hearings. The Bill was tabled in March 1996, but was only approved on 28 May 1996. After the following steps had been completed by the Committees.
1.2.1 Public hearings on the main budget in Mmabatho and Rustenburg. 1.2.2 Each Provincial Government Department had to explain and motivate its budget, to the relevant standing committee. 1.2.3 The Budget Speech of the Hon. MEC for Finance was elaborately deliberated upon. 1.2.4 Thereafter, the presentation of individual departmental budget speeches by their MEC's, each budget was considered for not less than one day each.
1.3 The North West Casinos, Gaming and Betting Amendment Act, 1996 approved on 29 October 1996 after consultations with National and other Provincial Governments, so as to ensure that the North West Act is consistent with the National Legislation.
1.4 The Consumer Affairs (Harmful Business Practices) Act, 1996 which was approved on 08 November 1996. Elaborate consultations were held between the Standing Committee, North West Consumer Council and the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs before it could be finally approved to be in line with the National legislation.
2. Bills referred to Committees
The Bills mentioned below after consultations with the relevant Standing Committees were tabled in the Legislature, but are not yet in a position to be proceeded with under thare therefore still in the hands of the Committees and Departments, and are receiving continuous attention of the Committees and Departments.
- DEPARTMENT DATE TABLED North West Health Developmental, Health and 12/06/1996 Social Welfare and Hospital Broadcasting Governance Bill, 1 3. Bills proposed for Tabling -mentioned below have not yet been tabled due to the consultations taking place between the Committees and the Departments.
--North west Schools Education Bill, 1996. - The Reports mentioned below were tabled in the Legislature and referred to the relevant Standing Committees for further attention. The Committees presented their reports in the House whereafter the tabled reports were discussed.
4.1 The Finance and Fiscal Report was tabled on 5 September 1996, and discussed by the Legislature on 20 September 1996.
4.2 The Macro Economic Strategy was tabled in the Legislature on 19 September 1996. Consultations and discussions continued until the matter was discussed by the House on 29 October 1996.
4.3 The Hon. MEC Vilakazi, introduced and tabled the Report by the National Taxi Task Team on 29 October 1996. The matter is still to be followed up by the Hon. MEC.
5. Reports tabled, discussed but not finalised
The North West Provincial Legislature Portfolio Committee undertake review of the current Departmental Budgets in an effort to ensure that Departments especially delivery Departments remain on track with their improved projects and remain on track within the budget. The necessity for budgetary adjustments is presented at this review consultations.
The target date for the commencement of the review meetings is from beginning of October, halfway through the budgetary circle/year. The 1996/97 meetings were as follows :-
--DEPARTMENT DATE -Agriculture 19/02/1996 Economic Affairs 19/02/1996 Finance 19/02/1996 Public Works 20/02/1996 Local Government 20/02/1996 Safety and Security 21/02/1996 Premier's Office 21/02/1996 Public Service Commission 21/02/1996 Legislature 21/02/1996 Education 22/02/1996 Health and Social Welfare 22/02/1996 Transport 23/02/1996 Media 23/02/1996 Premier's Office/RDP 5/11/1996 Health and Welfare 6/11/1996 Transport 6/11/1996 Agriculture 7/11/1996 Media 7/11/1996 Safety and Security 11/11/1996 Education 11/11/1996 Tourism and Environmental Affairs 12/11/1996 Finance and Economic Affairs 12/11/1996 Public Service Commission 12/11/1996 Legislature 14/11/1996 Public Works 14/11/1996 Local Gove 14/11/1996 Social Welfare 18/11/1996 Education (II) 26/11/1996 Tourism and Environmental (II) 27/11/1996 G.M. GASEBUSE SECRETARY: NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE