It’s the second week of budget vote debates in the National Assembly and the frenetic pace of committee meetings and mini-plenary sessions continue.
The debates are a platform for Ministers to unpack the work of government and to give an account of their spending plans and priorities for the year. This also forms part of Parliament’s consideration of the budget.
On Tuesday, there are 6 budget votes scheduled: Mineral Resources and Energy, Water and Sanitation, Public Service and Administration, Government Communications and Information Services, Small Business Development and National Treasury.
On Wednesday, the spotlight is on 3 departments: Transport, Communications and Digital Technologies and Home Affairs
Thursday is the turn of Basic Education, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Correctional Services.
The week rounds off with the Ministers of Fisheries and the Environment and National Treasury (State Security) delivering their speeches on Friday.
So far, the speeches have followed a familiar pattern – a few interesting announcements, a focus on implementing the government’s economic reconstruction and recovery plan, a recognition of the fiscal constraints and budget cuts, and accusations by the opposition that the government is failing to deliver on its promises.
In addition, with the 2024 elections in the background, MPs are using the debates to target hot-button election issues and try to score political points over their opponents.
Click here to read all the budget vote speeches and responses.
Elsewhere, the NCOP will hold Policy Debates on five Budget Votes at its plenary sittings this week (one on Tuesday and four on Thursday).
Beyond this, select Ministers in the Economic cluster will answer oral questions in the NCOP on Wednesday.
View the Questions here
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces is leading a multi-party delegation of Parliament to the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Pan-African Parliament held in Midrand from 15 May to 2 June 2023.
Legislation, spending matters, and oversight dominate the agenda in the committee corridor. Here is a rundown of the highlights:
TUESDAY, 16 MAY 2023
Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Health on the 2023 Appropriation Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the progress on the Material Irregularities at the Department of Transport and its entities; Deliberations on the Railway Safety Bill [B 7-2021]; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings], Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of draft minutes and draft reports; Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on Assessment of DBE Annual Performance Plan 2022/23; and Briefing by DBE on the following: National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP); Learner Transport Policy], Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Wing, Parliament, 09:30-12:30
Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, (National Assembly), [Virtual Oral submissions on Climate Change Bill [B9-2022]; and Briefing by the Department on the Rock Lobster Anti-Poaching Strategy], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing and update SCOPA on the progress made regarding the implementation of corrective measures regarding the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) including investigations], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:30
WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY 2023
Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption and clause by clause deliberations on the Financial Matters Amendment Bill [B20 – 2022]; Consideration and adoption and clause by clause deliberations on the Municipal Fiscal Powers and Functions Amendment Bill [B21 – 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Briefing on the status of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Bill, including correlations / alignment to the 2016 White Paper on Policing and 2016 White Paper on Safety and Security], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [(09:00-11:00) Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General South Africa on material irregularity and audit insight shared during Budgetary Review Recommendation Report; (11:00-13:00) Briefing by the National Treasury on policy to re-allocate funds from province to province or from metropolitan municipality to the metropolitan municipality. Impact of the re-allocation to the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) targets; Monitoring in order to ensure funds transferred are used for the intended purpose; Consideration and adoption of minutes and reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National School of Government on the Implementation strategy for the Framework Towards Professionalization of the Public Sector; Briefing by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the proposed legislative amendments to give effect to the Framework towards Professionalization of the Public Service; Briefing by the Public Service Commission on the readiness to implement provisions of the Framework towards the Professionalization of the Public Service; Consideration and adoption of the minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Meeting with Minister of Public Enterprises regarding ex GCEO of Eskom on allegations of corruption, theft, maladministration, sabotage, lack of consequence management, cartels and other financial irregularities at ESKOM], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:30
Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department on the preliminary progress on the preparations for the BRICS Summit in August 2023], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Update from SAA on their business operations, and how the delay of the finalisation of the strategic equity partnership is affecting their business; Consideration and adoption of budget vote report], Committee Room S35, NCOP Building, 10:00
Select Committee on Security and Justice, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of the Land Court Bill proposed amendments; Adoption of reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-12:00
Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Consultation with Financial and Fiscal Commission and Parliamentary Budget Office on the: (i) Appropriation Bill [B3 – 2023]; and (ii) Eskom Debt Relief Bill [B5 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
THURSDAY, 18 MAY 2023
Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the SA Navy on its expenditure plans, contracting details and timeframes for the repair and maintenance of Frigates and Submarines; Update by the SA Navy on the status of Projects Biro and Hotel; Consideration of outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00
FRIDAY, 19 MAY 2023
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Parliament’s performance in the Fourth Quarter of 2022/23: briefing by the Secretary to Parliament; Parliament’s 2023/24 budget and APP: update by the Secretary to Parliament; Organisational restructuring, filling of critical vacancies, and macro-structure for the 7th Parliament: briefings by the Secretary to Parliament; Consideration and adoption of committee minutes: 12 May 2023], Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 08:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Crime Statistics, Pre–release briefing Fourth Quarter Crime Statistics 2022/23 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
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