One of the interesting datasets that the People’s Assembly collates is the register of members interests - the annual declaration by Members of Parliament of their interests including shares in companies, gifts they have received (with a value in excess of R1 500), and companies of which they are directors. ...

During its deliberations on the National Credit Amendment Bill, the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry called in Black Sash, to brief members on the impact of unscrupulous lending on poor communities, specifically individuals who receive grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

Black Sash national ...

People’s Assembly attended the 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA), and we’ve brought you 20 SONA pictures to celebrate 20 years of democracy. Before President Zuma’s speech commenced, political leaders and Members of Parliament walked the red carpet flaunting smiles, speaking to the media, and posing for pictures.

President ...

Early on in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last night, President Jacob Zuma made mention of the institutions that check and balance our democracy:

“We have Chapter 9 institutions which support democracy and protect the rights of citizens. The liberations have also created space for an active civil ...

The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development met today, 12 February, to discuss the provinces negotiating mandates for the contentious Traditional Courts Bill. However, the discussion was brought to a stop when Members of the Committee argued that it was a waste of time to discuss and vote on ...

Considering that the ANC’s Chief Whip, Stone Sizani, was recently reported in the Sunday Times as saying that the contentious Labour Relations Amendment Bill (LRA) was one of the nine pieces of legislation the ruling party wanted to get passed in Parliament prior to the general elections, it was surprising ...

With the Madiba memorial fake sign language fiasco still fresh in our memories, People’s Assembly was struck by the rapport and fluidity with which South Africa’s first and only deaf MP, Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen, and her interpreters communicated complex and technical political terms in a recent Communications Portfolio Committee meeting.

During ...

The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries hosted a two-day workshop on Food Security and Safety with the Portfolio Committees of Health and Social Development and the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources. The committees engaged with food security and safety experts to examine what structures are in ...

On Tuesday 11 February the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) was due to report back to their namesake Portfolio Committee in Parliament on the progress of fishing permits allocations and appeals. Chairperson Mlungisi Johnson (ANC) maintained that he did not feel it was appropriate to hear the Department’s ...

President Zuma will deliver the 2014 State of the Nation Address (SONA) to a Joint Sitting of the two Houses at 7pm from the National Assembly Chamber on Thursday 13 February. Although this is commonly regarded to be the official opening of Parliament, it is important to note that MPs ...