Parliament opened on 14 February and completed work on 20 bills during its first session. On 26 February, the Minister of Finance presented the national Budget which provided for a modest real increase in spending on health, education and social development.

Parliament reconvenes on 12 August. The Minister of Finance will deliver his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, outlining spending plans for the next three years, on 29 October.

This update lists all legislation enacted during the first session of 2003, as well as bills still pending. See below, for an explanation of bill numbering and tagging and information on how to obtain copies of bills.

Legislation Enacted This Session

Highlights

Appropriations Act and Division of Revenue Act

These are the two main Acts defining the allocation of national revenue (the Budget). The former determines overall expenditure by function, while the latter tells how national revenues will be divided among the three spheres of government (national, provincial and local). It also allocates the provincial share among the nine provinces. This year, the total budget grew by R25,3 billion to R287,9 billion. Provision was made for modest real increases in spending on health (1,8%) and education (1,3%). Defence spending will grow at a real rate of 7,4%, outstripping spending on police. Local government will receive a slightly larger share of national revenue (3%, as opposed to 2,5% last year).

Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act

Outlaws the manufacture, sale, stockpiling, or use of anti-personnel landmines, as required by the international anti-personnel landmines convention, which South Africa and other countries in Southern Africa were instrumental in promoting.

Legislation Awaiting Consideration by Second House

Legislation Awaiting Consideration by First House

Highlights

Child Justice Bill

Will govern the way in which children are dealt with by the criminal justice system.

Notes on Bill Numbering and Tagging

Bill numbers

Bills are numbered in order of tabling within each year. Thus, bill number B75-97 was the seventy-fifth bill tabled in 1997. A letter following a bill number specifies a revision of the original bill, usually indicating that it has been amended by Parliament. For example, B54D-97 denotes the second revision of bill B54-97 (where B54B-97 would have been the first revision). Intermediate documents (in this case, versions A and C) usually list the amendments made.

Bill tagging

In terms of the Constitution, different types of legislation must be handled differently by Parliament. Consequently, all bills must be "tagged" to indicate the section of the Constitution that regulates their consideration and adoption. The State Law Advisors recommend a tag for each bill prior to introduction, but the four presiding officers of Parliament (the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chair and Deputy Chair of the NCOP) make a final determination. The categories of legislation are:

• Section 74 (Bills amending the Constitution) - Must be introduced in the National Assembly and must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the members of that House (or, in certain cases, a 75% majority). Amendments to Section 1 (preamble), Chapter 2 (Bill of Rights), or any amendment that affects the provinces must also receive the support of at least six provinces in the NCOP.
• Section 75 (Ordinary Bills not affecting provinces) - Must be introduced in the National Assembly and must be passed by both Houses.
• Section 76 (Ordinary Bills affecting provinces) - Most Section 76 bills may be introduced either in the National Assembly [Section 76(1)] or in the NCOP [Section 76(2)]. Certain types of bills (such as those which, due to exceptional circumstances, would intervene in affairs normally considered the exclusive responsibility of the provinces) must be introduced in the National Assembly. All Section 76 bills must be passed by both Houses.
• Section 77 (Money Bills) - Must be introduced in the National Assembly and be considered in accordance with Section 75. Parliament is required to specify a procedure for the amendment of money bills.

Obtaining copies of bills

You should be able to get a copy of any of the tabled bills mentioned above on the Parliament web site or on the government document server. (Note: You need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view most bills. If you do not have it, it can be downloaded for free.)

Alternatively, contact your local constituency office and ask for help in obtaining the bills you desire. Or you can order bills directly from the Government Printer, Private Bag X85, Pretoria 0001. Be sure to specify each bill number and title and include your name and address.