On Tuesday, 2 June 2015, the National Treasury and Department of Basic Education briefed a joint meeting of the Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Basic Education Portfolio Committee about education infrastructure spending as well as spending on the Education Infrastructure Grant (EIG). Three provinces had under-spent on their infrastructure ...

By Fatima Mathivha

When we arrive at the Bannister Hotel in Braamfontein for the VIP Debate Club there’s already a buzz in the air. The turnout is impressive and we struggle to find a seat. It’s a little surprising. Not only are we all here to discuss the very sensitive ...

Parliament has scheduled a broad and busy programme in the main chambers as well as in the committee corridor this week.

The Legislature's budget vote is the main plenary event. During their speeches last year, the presiding officers (read here and here) focused largely on the legacy of the ...

By Sheilan Clarke

Government hasn’t forgotten about the youth of South Africa. So much so that The Presidency created the National Youth Plan 2020 (NYP). The draft, which was approved by Cabinet on Thursday, focuses on how to improve certain areas of the lives of young people. Deputy Minister in ...

On Tuesday, 26 May 2015, the Department of Home Affairs briefed the Home Affairs Portfolio Committee on the new Immigration Regulations that are set to kick in on 1 June 2015. The new regulations are in line with the Children’s Act (2005) and aims to curb child trafficking. According to ...

By Rofhiwa Maneta

This month Minister of State Security David Mahlobo announced that he was in “advanced stages” of drafting regulations for the Protection of State Information Bill. The regulations – which set the foundation for the bill to be implemented once signed into law – have renewed fears from ...

MPs will be relieved that the grueling budget vote schedule is nearing the end. This process began in February with the training of MPs on the processing of the budget votes and was followed by committees meeting with various departments and entities on their strategic plans, annual performance plans and ...

By Rofhiwa Maneta

History has a dirty habit of repeating itself. When the wave of xenophobic violence swept through South Africa seven years ago, claiming 67 lives and displacing thousands, no one could’ve bargained it would happen again. Former President Thabo Mbeki addressed parliament a month after the attacks, apologising ...

On Wednesday, 20 May 2015, the South African Police Service (SAPS) briefed the Police Portfolio Committee on progress made on the implementation of the Child Justice Act. Since the implementation of the legislation, the number of children charged for crimes has been on a downward trajectory. The Act looks toward ...

By Kgorula Bitterhout

The Department of Basic Education has recently come under fire for its plans to provide school kids with condoms. The plan, which is part of the department’s Draft National Policy on HIV, STI’s and TB, could see children as young as ten receive condoms. This has drawn ...