The Week Ahead: Presidency’s budget vote takes centre stage

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 ...

LiveMagSA: Xenophobia - With heads bowed in shame…

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 ...

Infographic: Child Justice Act implementation - progress report

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 ...

The Week ahead: Legislation & budget debates dominate

This is a week for detailed law-making, with issues ranging from maintenance, to freedom of expression, to land expropriation, to trade union accountability and decriminalising consensual sex between children of certain ages.

Beyond this, the legislature’s budget vote season doesn’t show any sign of slowing down as most days are ...

Ms Phumzile van Damme - DA

P Van Damme

Political background: Growing up, I was involved in politics in one form or another. My earliest memory of political activity was leading a strike in Grade 5 because our teacher would not allow us to go out for break.

At university I majored in Political Science and Law, and the ...

The Week Ahead: Second term kicks off

Parliament resumes this week after a two-week constituency period. The second term will run for eleven weeks and the programme is packed with activities. Some of the highlights include committee, oversight and legislative work; oral questions to the President and the Executive; budget vote debates and the National Council of ...

Infographic: Firearm restrictions in South Africa - For or against?

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 24 and 25 March, Parliament hosted a National Firearms Control Summit, organised by the Police Portfolio Committee. The summit comes at a pivotal time as the Firearms Control Amendment Bill is before Parliament. The event was well attended by the relevant government entities, as well as ...

LiveMagSA: What is government doing about corruption?

By Rofhiwa Maneta

Corruption. From the controversy surrounding the expenses to his homestead in Nkandla to his alleged involvement in the arms deal, no one word has followed Jacob Zuma around since he began his first term as president in 2009 more than the inglorious c-word . With concern about ...

Infographic: Rhino Poaching Update – 2015

158 rhinos were poached in January and February 2015 according to the Department of Environmental Affairs. The Department briefed the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs recently, telling MPs that 108 of the 158 poached rhinos were from the Kruger National Park. Rhino poaching has increased drastically in the last ten ...

Read President Jacob Zuma's 2015 State of the Nation speech here:

State of the Nation Address by His Excellency Jacob G Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa on the occasion of the Joint Sitting Of Parliament Cape Town,

The Speaker of the National Assembly, The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and ...