The Week Ahead: #Budget2022 in the spotlight

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s maiden Budget Speech on Wednesday, 23 February will dominate headlines this week.

The Budget presents an overall synopsis of the state of the country’s finances, amendments to tax, distribution of revenue across spheres of government and distribution of expenditure across national departments. It serves as a practical way through which government’s plans and policies are tangibly translated into goods and services. The budget is arguably the most important government document. It impacts the economy at large and the everyday lives of South Africans. It also reveals the broad policy decisions of the government and serves as a platform for reforms.

This speech comes at a tough time for South Africa and a balancing act by the Minister is expected.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecasted that the country’s economy will grow by 1.9% in 2022. The World Bank is slightly more optimistic and is predicting 2.1%.

The reality is that public finances are constrained, limiting the ability of government to expand its investment in economic and social development. Government has to do more with less and needs to be efficient in the use of financial resources.

[Budget 2022: All You Need To Know]

Financial markets and credit rating agencies are interested observers in the speech. The public will also be paying attention to what taxes (if any) are introduced and if there is an increase in expenditure on social grants.

During his 2022 State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa outlined his government’s immediate priorities such as the resuscitation of ageing infrastructure across the three spheres of government, job creation and more which would be spearheaded through a new comprehensive social compact “to grow our economy, create jobs and combat hunger”. Minister Godongwana is thus expected to outline in detail how these commitments and plans will be funded.

Legislation accompanying the budget speech will be tabled on the day, namely, the Appropriations Bill, Division of Revenue Bill and Tax Bills.

These will be discussed and processed by the finance and appropriation committees in both houses.

Following the release of the quarter 3 2021/22 crime statistics last Friday, Minister Bheki Cele will brief NCOP delegates on Tuesday on the implementation of the National Crime Prevention Strategy under the theme: Progress in Addressing Crime and Building a Coordinated Approach to Crime Prevention and Control.

Thursday’s NCOP sitting – schedule for 14:00 – will put a focus on mental health as lawmakers debate: “Mental Health for All: Giving Priority and Greater Access to Mental Health Care for All.”

The week rounds off with two Women’s Charter Review Report Back Sessions: Mpumalanga Province at 09:00 and the Eastern Cape Province at 15:00.

There is notable action in the Committee corridor with 43 meetings scheduled. Here is a rundown of the highlights:

TUESDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the DTIC on Trade Policy and an update on trade negotiations as well as implementation of trade agreements], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of draft minutes and reports; Briefing by the Department of Basic Education on the Analysis, Implications and Impact of the President’s SONA 2022; Consideration and processing of the BELA Bill] Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30

Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries and Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, (National Assembly), [Concurrency matters by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment: Animal protection and welfare: Implementation of the recommendations from the High Level Panel on Captive animals; and Adoption of minutes of the previous meeting], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Stakeholder engagement on the Disaster Management Amendment Bill [B2-2021]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Further responses and deliberations: Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill], Virtual meeting Platform, 09:30]

Committee for Section 194 Enquiry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Services Office (CLSO) on the Constitutional Court judgement and proposed way forward; Consideration of Revised Committee Programme; Adoption of Committee minutes of Wednesday, 28 July 2021], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00

Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Public hearings on Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill [B 21B – 2020] (s75) (COIDA) and Employment Equity Amendment Bill [B 14B—2020] (s75)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 16:00-20:35

WEDNESDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Employment & Labour, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the AGSA on the audit outcomes of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund (CF); Briefing by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) on its plan to include the extended mandate], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:30-13:30

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, (National Assembly), [Responses to the Expropriation Bill [B23-2020] public inputs (Parliamentary Legal Adviser) Department of Public Works & Infrastructure and Office of the State Law Adviser; Consideration and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting] Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Health, (National Assembly), [NHI Public Hearings, Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilties, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Commission for Gender Equality on the following reports: Report of the Commission for Gender Equality on an investigation into choice of termination of pregnancies in South Africa – 2021, Report of the Commission for Gender Equality on Government’s Emergency Response Action Plan (ERAP) on Gender-based Violence and Femicide; Research Report of the Commission for Gender Equality – The Bare Minimum: South Africa’s Compliance with CEDAW Committee 2011: Concluding Observations and Recommendations for 2020; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Social Development in response to issues raised during provincial public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [Workshop by the Department of Human Settlements on the Housing Consumer Protection Bill [B10 - 2021]; Consideration and adoption of minutes and reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Further responses and deliberations: Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill], Virtual meeting Platform, 09:30

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Eskom on the mid-term results and an update on the unbundling and security of electricity supply], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communications, (National Council of Provinces), [A briefing by ICASA on the status of the spectrum licensing including access to it by small ICT service providers to create competition and avoid oligopoly], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [2022 Budget Lock-up Session], CLOSED MEETING, 11:00-14:00

THURSDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2022

Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of People Against Racial Classification Petition (Petitioner is calling for the removal of the word “Coloured “from all official government and private institutions documents); Consideration of outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Minister of Finance on the 2022 Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30-15:00

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Meeting Armscor and Denel on: (1) the protection of sovereign technology Intellectual Property, (2) the commercialisation of the A-Darter missile systems and the impact on the SA Air Force and (3) the capacity of Denel to continue existing service contracts with the SANDF. Update by DOD on the reported allegation that deployed soldiers in Mozambique had food poisoning. Consideration of letters from the President dated 4 January 2022 on SANDF deployment under Operation Prosper. Consideration of Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 25 FEBRUARY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by DSI on Programme 3: International Cooperation and Resources with emphasis on key agreement and regional partnerships and synergies/collaboration with DHET in this regard; Briefing by DHET on internationalisation of higher education and overview of bursary and scholarships programmes for students studying abroad and synergies/collaboration with DSI in this regard], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Consideration and adoption of committee minutes: 8 & 9 February 2022. Briefing on Parliament’s performance in the third quarter of 2021/22], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30-15:30

Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your thoughts on the ground experience and expert information to the relevant committees. Critically, what questions should MPs pose to the Executive as they conduct their oversight work? Write to a Parliamentary Committee

View the schedule page here.

You can also find the schedule for Provincial Legislatures here.

*This summary is based on the schedule as it is published on Monday morning. The programme is subject to frequent updating so the link above needs to be checked daily to confirm the programme for the day.

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