Cape Town: The Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has sought advice from Parliament's Legal Services regarding the feasibility of amending the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act through a committee Bill. The committee is keen to ensure that resources are in place for the effective establishment of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF).
According to African Press Organization, the committee received a briefing from Parliament's Legal Services, during which Chairperson Ms. Liezl van der Merwe emphasized the need for clarity on the council's mandate. This was a key reason for engaging Parliament's legal services on the NCGBVF. Ms. van der Merwe stressed the importance of not merely progressing through procedural steps without the necessary resources for the council's establishment.
Advocate Charmaine van der Merwe of Parliament's Legal Services noted that while the department may hold a different perspective, the committee's focus was not on contentious issues like the National Health Insurance. She expressed that while there may be differing opinions on the proposed amendments, they are unlikely to provoke public outcry. Advocate van der Merwe suggested that the proposed amendments could be effectively addressed through a committee Bill.
The Parliamentary Legal Services will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the NCGBVF Act, concentrating on specific objectives. These include assessing the feasibility of a committee Bill to amend the act, identifying provisions needing clarification regarding the council’s scope and mandate, and providing examples of advisory government structures like the South African National AIDS Council. Additionally, the evaluation will consider the feasibility of compensating council members from civil society without heavily impacting public funds and propose limitations on the secretariat's size and structure. A timeline will also be provided should a committee Bill be introduced.