Wednesday, 2 August 2017 – The High Level Panel on the Assessment of Key Legislation and the Acceleration of Fundamental Change (HLP) chaired by former President Kgalema Motlanthe, held successful deliberations on the final recommendations that will go into its final report at Spier in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
The prominent South Africans that constitute the High Level Panel met over the two days (1 and 2 August 2017) to give shape to their recommendations which will inform the final report to be submitted to the Speaker’s Forum and Parliament.
Mr Motlanthe described the process as, “very enriching” and said, “Of all our fact finding missions there is none that could substitute the testimonies of the lived experiences of the ordinary South Africans relayed during the public hearings.”
The Chairperson said that one of the key issues that came up very strongly from all provinces is the issue of land and believes that the panel has put together, “concrete and more practical recommendations to help the country address the issue.”
Professor Ben Turok, the veteran parliamentarian, who was invited to facilitate the panel’s discussions on the recommendations of the various interim reports indicated that, “The panel has produced very good and impressive work that is quite courageous.”
Drawing from his vast experience as a parliamentarian, he managed to consolidate divergent viewpoints and interpretations of recommendations by panel members into very straightforward, precise recommendations. Professor Turok highlighted the fact that: “It is courageous and bold of the Legislative Sector to open itself up for evaluation and critique which is commendable.”
The deliberations follow a marathon public consultation process across all nine provinces, where numerous organisations and community members presented their views to the panel. Additional to this were high level consultations with seasoned experts across the different thematic areas of work.
The panel met to deliberate on the recommendations of the three Working Groups that focus on:
1. Poverty, unemployment, inequality and equitable distribution of wealth;
2. Land reform and rural development; and
3. Social cohesion and nation building.
The panel is on course for submitting its final report to the Speaker’s Forum next month (September 2017)
For media interviews please contact or call Ms Nolizwi Magwagwa on 081 716 5824.
ISSUED BY THE HIGH LEVEL PANEL ON THE ASSESSMENT OF KEY LEGISLATION AND THE ACCELERATION OF FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE
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