Parliament, Tuesday, 8 October 2024 – The Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources today postponed its scheduled meeting due to the absence of senior leadership from the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.
The department was to provide a comprehensive briefing on provincial conditional grants, the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP), Ilima/Letsema and Land Care Conditional Grants
The Chairperson of the select committee, Mr Bones Modise, expressed the committee’s deep disappointment that neither the Minister, Deputy Minister, nor the Director-General were present for this important oversight meeting. Mr Modise emphasised that the committee has a constitutional mandate to hold the executive accountable, and that the absence of the department’s executive leadership was unacceptable.
“As Members of Parliament entrusted by the citizens of this country, we cannot allow the executive to treat this committee as a mere formality. We are here to engage substantively and provide oversight on critical issues of land reform and rural development,” said Mr Modise.
The committee resolved to reschedule the meeting, stipulating that it must be held in-person, with the Minister, Deputy Minister and senior departmental leadership present.
“This is not negotiable. We need to have a meaningful, face-to-face engagement where we can ask tough questions and hold the department accountable. Virtual meetings are no substitute for proper oversight,” Mr Modise stated.
The committee reiterated that the meeting will be rescheduled and the date announced in due course.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, LAND REFORM AND MINERAL RESOURCES MR BONES MODISE
For media inquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Yoliswa Landu (Ms)
Cell: 081 4974694
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
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