Page:Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996 from Government Gazette.djvu/35



Chapter 4—Parliament

oath or affirmation or to produce documents; require any institution or person to report to it; compel, in terms of national legislation or the rules and orders, any person or institution to comply with a summons or requirement in terms of paragraph (a) or (b); and receive petitions, representations or submissions from any interested persons or institutions.

Internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures of National Council

The National Council of Provinces may —

determine and control its internal arrangements, proceedings and procedures; and make rules and orders concerning its business, with due regard to representative and participatory democracy, accountability, transparency and public involvement.

The rules and orders of the National Council of Provinces must provide for —

the establishment, composition, powers, functions, procedures and duration of its committees; the participation of all the provinces in its proceedings in a manner consistent with democracy; and the participation in the proceedings of the Council and its committees of minority parties represented in the Council, in a manner consistent with democracy, whenever a matter is to be decided in accordance with section 75.

Privilege

Delegates to the National Council of Provinces and the persons referred to in sections 66  and  67  —

have freedom of speech in the Council and in its committees, subject to its rules and orders; and are not liable to civil or criminal proceedings, arrest, imprisonment or damages for —

anything that they have said in, produced before or submitted to the Council or any of its committees; or anything revealed as a result of anything that they have said in, produced before or submitted to the Council or any of its committees.

Other privileges and immunities of the National Council of Provinces, delegates to the Council and persons referred to in sections 66 and 67 may be prescribed by national legislation.

Salaries, allowances and benefits payable to permanent members of the National Council of Provinces are a direct charge against the National Revenue Fund.

Public access to and involvement in National Council

The National Council of Provinces must —