The committees of the Parliament of South Africa are appointed to oversee the work of government and to process legislation in domains relevant to their designated portfolio. They are composed of Members of Parliament from either parliamentary chamber. Portfolio committees and most standing committees are peopled by Members of the National Assembly, while select committees comprise Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces; these shadow the work of a particular government department or group of departments. Parliament may also establish joint committees, with members from both houses, and either chamber, alone or jointly, may establish ad hoc committees that operate for a shorter timeframe under a narrower mandate.[1]
Although committees are largely regulated in terms of the Rules of Parliament, the basic framework for their operation derives from Chapter Four of the Constitution of South Africa. The Constitution provides for committees' powers to summon any persons or institutions to provide evidence, for their obligation to provide for public participation in committee activities, and for members' freedom of speech and parliamentary privilege during committee proceedings.[2] In terms of the Constitution, Parliament may not exclude the public or the media from any committee sittings "unless it is reasonable and justifiable to do so in an open and democratic society".
Parliamentary political parties are represented in committees in proportions that are generally representative of their strength in Parliament. Because committee chairpersons are elected by and from among the members of each committee, the majority party in Parliament has the most influence in selecting chairpersons.[3]
The portfolio committees of the National Assembly deal with the examining of bills, departmental budget votes, and are responsible for oversight of the work their respective department does. As of 2024, the current portfolio committees and the chairs of each committee are as follows:[4]
| Chair | |||
| Name | Since | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standing Committee on Appropriations | Mmusi Maimane | 2024 | |
| Standing Committee on Auditor-General | Wouter Wessels | 2024 | |
| Standing Committee on Finance | Joe Maswanganyi[7] | 2019 | |
| Standing Committee on Public Accounts | Songezo Zibi | 2024 | |
Select committees are made up of Permanent Delegates to the National Council of Provinces. Since the National Council of Provinces, is much smaller than the National Assembly, select committees oversee the work of more than one department. As of 2024, the current select committees and chairs of each committee are as follows:[4]
| Chair | Responsibility | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Since | ||||
| Select Committee on Appropriations | Tidimalo Legwase | 2024 | |||
| Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform, and Mineral Resources | Mpho Modise | 2024 | |||
| Mxolisi Kaunda | 2024 | ||||
| Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade | Sonja Boshoff | 2024 | |||
| Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries | Makhi Feni | 2024 | |||
| Select Committee on Finance | Sanny Ndhlov | 2024 | National Treasury | ||
| Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings | Ofentse Mokae | 2024 | |||
| Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Ministries in Presidency | Frederik Badenhorst | 2024 | |||
| Select Committee on Security and Justice | Jane Mananiso | 2024 | Department of Police, Department of Justice and Correctional Services, Department of Defence and Military Veterans, Department of Home Affairs and Department of International Relations and Cooperation | ||
| Select Committee on Social Services | Desery Fienies | 2024 | |||
A joint committee consists of members of Parliament from both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.
| Chairs | Responsibility | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Since | ||||
| Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interest | Lydia Moshodi Bheki Nkosi | 2019 | Ethical conduct of MPs and their financial disclosures | ||
| Chair | ||||
| Name | Since | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament | Peace Mabe Dikeledi Mahlangu | 2019 | ||
| Joint Standing Committee on Defence | Elleck Nchabeleng Cyril Xaba | 2019 | ||
| Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence | Jerome Maake | 2019 | ||