The Week Ahead: Eskom and Freedom Day Debates

Following last week’s pared-down programme, things return to normal with a full agenda in the main chambers and committee corridor.

Everything from oral questions to the Executive, debates, legislative business, committee oversight, and a Conference is scheduled.

The National Assembly will hold a debate – on Tuesday - to celebrate Freedom Day under the theme: “Consolidating our democratic gains by giving enhanced meaning to our constitutional rights through the building of a more equitable society”.

At the same sitting, lawmakers will consider the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill. If passed, this will conclude Parliament’s processing of a bill that was introduced in 2019 and has bounced between the two houses. The bill prohibits employment against non-approved posts and requires all staff systems and procedures of a municipality to be consistent with uniform standards determined by the Minister by regulation. Read the bill here

Select Ministers in the Economics Cluster will be probed on a range of issues during Question Time on Wednesday. Everything from specific scandals and programmes to big-picture policy, to bread-and-butter issues and performance, will be under the microscope. View Questions here.

In terms of public impact, Thursday’s urgent debate on Eskom is likely to eclipse everything else. The debate (titled: The energy crisis and the threat of a protracted failure of Eskom) will be led by the IFP Chief Whip, Mr Narend Singh.

Assorted Committee Reports including approval of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa will be considered on the same day.

Meanwhile, at the other end of Parliament, NCOP delegates will participate in a Virtual State Capability Conference under the theme: “State Capability – Delineating Weaknesses, Devising Strategic Mechanisms to Accelerate Policy Implementation” on Friday.

Budget-related meetings rumble on as committees interrogate departments and entities on their budgets, targets and priorities for the year ahead and finalise their ensuing reports to the House.

There is a common trend during the budget briefings: departments and entities complain about the impact of COVID-19 and budget cuts, which result in less money available for core programmatic work and ask for more money. In response, committees probe departments on whether they are working in a prudent manner with finances and prioritising spending in the right areas.

Here is a rundown of the highlights:

TUESDAY, 3 MAY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs,(National Assembly), [Briefing by the Electoral Commission and the Government Printing Works on the Annual Plans and Budgets for 2022/23], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the South African Revenue Service (SARS) on their Annual Performance Plan], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the DTIC on the status of the SEZs], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Films and Publications Board on 2022/23 its Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by BBI on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by USAASA / USAF on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget and the USAASA /USAF 2021/22 revised Annual Performance Plan; Briefing by Sentech on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by NEMISA on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by. ZADNA on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by SITA on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the South African Post Office (SAPO) on its 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan and Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, (National Assembly), [Presentation on the Strategic, Annual Performance Plans and Budget allocations for 2022/23 financial year by the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB); Public Hearings on the Agricultural Produce Agents Amendment Bill [B33-2020]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY 2022

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Public hearings on the Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies Bill [B3 – 2022] and the Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies (Administration) and Deposit Insurance Premiums Bill [B4 – 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Criminal Law (Forensic Procedures) Amendment Bill, 2021; Clause by clause deliberation and adoption], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, (National Assembly), [Public Hearings on the Agricultural Produce Agents Amendment Bill [B33-2020]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the DOD on its Annual Performance Plan and Budget for 2022/23 and Responses to the AGSA Report on the Status of Records Review; Briefing by Armscor on its Corporate Plan and Budget for 2022/23 and Responses to the AGSA Report on the Status of Records Review], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

THURSDAY, 5 MAY 2022

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing on the implementation of the recommendations of the Forensic Report on 1 Military Hospital, progress with the RAMP and related matters; Briefing by the Ministry on the way ahead on the Military Ombud report on the food related challenge in Mozambique], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:15-21:00

FRIDAY, 6 MAY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Response from the DTIC and Adv Merwe on submissions received wrt the Copyright Amendment Bill [1]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation Group (NECSA), National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI), National Energy Regulator of SA (NERSA), Central Energy Fund Group (CEF), State Diamond Trade (SDT), on their respective Annual Performance Plans and budgets for the 2022-23 FY], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-17:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Content Advisor on the draft report of budget vote 5 of the Department of Home Affairs; Comments by Parliament Legal Services on any constitutional or legal issue on the report on public participation of the Electoral Amendment Bill [B 1 – 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00-16:00

Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your thoughts on the ground experience and expert information with 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. View the Provincial Legislatures' schedules 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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