NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AGREES TO EIGHT MATTERS AT SITTING TODAY
Parliament, Tuesday 19 March 2019 – The National Assembly during its plenary sitting today passed the Public Audit Excess Fee Bill, Public Service Commission Amendment Bill as well as the Films and Publications Amendment Bill.
Today’s sitting is the penultimate as the National Assembly rises tomorrow bringing to conclusion the work of the National Assembly during the 5th Parliament.
In democratic countries such as South Africa, Parliament plays a critical role as elected officials become the voice of ordinary citizens. It is therefore essential that all laws passed, are in line with the Constitutional principles and promotes the values of human dignity, equality, non-racialism and non-sexism.
As such, the Public Audit Excess Fee Bill seeks to provide that the specified excess of the audit fee of certain categories of organs of state, payable to the Auditor General, as envisaged in the Public Audit Act, 2004, is, if the stated conditions are complied with, a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund.
The Public Service Commission Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Public Service Commission Act to clarify the procedure with regard to the renewal of term of office of a commissioner. Further, to provide for a commissioner to act as the chairperson when both the chairperson and deputy chairperson are absent or for any reason, unable to act as chairperson.