To download an audio clip of the Chairperson of the Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, Mr Jerome Maake click https://www.iono.fm/e/1399277
Parliament, Wednesday, 24 January 2024 – The Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill today held its third and final public hearings in Limpopo at the Ga-Seleka Community Hall in the Lephalale Local Municipality within the Waterberg District. The committee welcomed approximately 250 members of the general public and 72 traditional leaders.
Over and above issues directly related to the Bill, members of the public who attended the hearings stated that they were seeing Members of Parliament for the first in their community and took the opportunity to raise issues that were affecting them. They provided oral submissions on a wide range of service-delivery concerns, including youth unemployment, the need for medical facilities, social grants and services for the elderly. While these inputs did not relate directly to the Bill, they remain important focus areas for the broader government to consider. Such inputs will be referred to the relevant portfolio committees in Parliament to attend to them.
Similar to inputs received in Musina and Tzaneen, members of the public also raised concerns about crime and border safeguarding. Some members noted that these related issues contribute to the proliferation of illegal migration and cross-border crimes. Drug smuggling and drug abuse was another concern, as they affect the youth in the community. These observations again highlight the need for intelligence-driven policing and intelligence-driven border safeguarding efforts.
Some members of the community also mentioned that they require further time to engage with the Bill. The committee seeks to reiterate that the deadline for written submissions has been extended to 15 February 2024. The committee requests all those who wish to make submissions to do so in writing to GILAB2023@parliament.gov.za.
The committee will continue to Gauteng and will start the public participation at the Tshwane Council Chamber in the Tshwane Municipality on Friday 26 January 2024.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LAWS AMENDMENT BILL, MR JEROME MAAKE.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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