Talk is cheap, implementation is where the money lies. And while setting up a parliamentary review panel to look at some of the more than 1 000 laws that have been passed since 1994, is a positive, it’s what’s done with the findings. It’s a strong panel looking in, chaired by Kgalema Motlanthe, with former cabinet minister Bridgette Mabandla, former reserve bank governor Tito Mboweni, land issues expert Dr Anika Claasens, former FirstRand Group CEO Paul Harris and former auditor general Terrence Nombembe all involved. The other concern is that it’s going to take 12 months. We’ve already seen the IMF downgrade South Africa’s 2016 growth forecast by almost a half to 0.7 percent, and a year just seems to long gone. The need for change is now, all while one can’t rush these things, one wonders if speed is of the essence. It isn’t the first and it won’t be the last review type panel, but the key will be what government does with the findings, Many focus groups have previously yielded nought. – Stuart Lowman
By Thulani Gqirana, News24
Parliament – A panel to review the impact of legislation dating back to 1994 got underway in Parliament on Tuesday.
Parliament’s Independent Advisory Panel is chaired by former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete said the key purpose of the panel was to assess the impact of legislation passed by Parliament since 1994.
She said they were interested in what happened after the legislation was passed, and how it impacted on people’s lives, especially in dealing with transformation.
“It’s all very well to pass laws, but the point it what is the impact on people’s lives? That is the issue that we hope to have more insight into through the work of the panel.”
She said an example was the structures in place to deal with inequality in the country.
“Has it worked? The evidence tells us ‘no’, if you listen to South Africans. So why has it not worked? That is what we will look into.”
The panel includes former cabinet minister Bridgette Mabandla, former reserve bank governor Tito Mboweni, land issues expert Dr Anika Claasens, former FirstRand Group CEO Paul Harris and former auditor general Terrence Nombembe.
Identified areas of concern were challenges of poverty, unemployment, inequality, creation of an equitable distribution of wealth, land reform, restitution and redistribution, nation building and social cohesion.
The panel would look at laws that needed strengthening or changing, and which were not working for South Africans.
"We have to admit our weaknesses, that's the first step. If we don't do that, we will not be able to correct ourselves." – Kgalema Motlanthe
— Roche Mamabolo (@rochemamabolo) January 20, 2016
They would look at some “unintended consequences” of the laws.
More than 1 000 laws have been passed since 1994. Mbete said they would not review all of them.
“We have to look at the list of things we have already identified and prioritise,” she said.
Motlanthe said it was their hope and belief that the panel would not reinvent the wheel.
“We’ll come up with recommendations that would improve on the quality of life of South Africans.”
An example, he said, was the burden of establishing a new enterprise which was compounded by the number of regulatory and legislative hurdles that had to be scaled.
“The panel would look at that as it can work against job creation. The panel hopes to make a positive contribution in that kind of way, rather than merely go through legislation and make recommendations on amendments.
“It has to be practical implications that would… benefit South African citizens.”
The panel would be holding public hearings as part of their work and would submit their report in 12 months. –Â News24
