Question 11
Dr A Lotriet (DA) to ask the Deputy President:
Whether he has considered a proposal to devolve the management of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to the Department of Arts and Culture; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details regarding the time frames envisaged for the implementation of the proposal?
Reply:
Honourable member, I assume that you are referring to the proposal of the ad hoc committee for the Review of Chapter 9 and associated institutions that was made to the National Assembly on 31 July 2007.
With regard to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, the ad hoc committee recommended inter alia the incorporation of the Pan South African Language Board (PANSALB) into the Commission and the designation of the Minister of Arts and Culture as the member of the Executive dealing with the Commission.
The ad hoc committee further outlined a process which involved the appointment of a task team consisting of three members of the Commission, three members of the PANSALB and six members of the National Assembly to report to the National Assembly with a practical plan for implementing the proposal.
I note that when the National Assembly dealt with the ad hoc committee’s report in the last Parliament on 21 November 2008, whilst adopting the recommendation on the establishment of a Parliamentary Unit on Constitutional Institutions and other Statutory Bodies; it resolved that the rest of the report – including the provisions I have referred to be held in abeyance with a view to allow the fourth Parliament that is this Parliament to consider the matter in a manner it deems fit.
It is therefore up to this fourth Parliament to debate and discuss these issues relating to the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, and determine whether there is a need to devolve its management to another department.
I thank you.
