The Week Ahead: Oral Questions & Debates Dominate the Agenda

An eclectic week of parliamentary action beckons in the main chambers and Committee Corridor.

A combination of Question Time sessions, debates, budget-related work, legislative business, and a few high-profile Committee meetings should mean plenty of fizz.

The practice of oral questions is an established part of the parliamentary day and gives MPs an opportunity to question the Executive about matters for which they are responsible. For all its limitations, this is usually an occasion of heightened interest. Everything from specific scandals and programmes to big-picture policy and performance will be under the microscope. Generally, governing party MPs and the opposition have different objectives when it comes to these engagements: the former tends to provide Ministers with an opportunity to put government policies and actions in a favourable light while the latter aims to do the opposite. The focus is on the Economic Cluster with select Ministers appearing in the NCOP on Tuesday and Thursday and in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Tuesday’s National Assembly sitting has a broad agenda: a debate to mark Freedom Day, a debate on an urgent matter of national public importance: the economic impact of greylisting and steps required to exit the greylist and consideration of legislation and assorted committee reports.

On Wednesday, the NCOP’s plenary programme is dedicated to motions and the consideration of several committee reports.

There are two mini-plenaries scheduled on Thursday. They serve as breakaway sessions of the National Assembly.

Mini-plenary 1:

Subject for discussion (Ms M Modise): The African Union at 60 – Sixty years of the emancipation of African people and advancement of economic integration of the continent Subject for discussion (Ms T Bodlani): Measures to deal with the South African Post Office’s provisional liquidation and the negative impact this may have on the delivery of its core services, including the payment of social grants on behalf of SASSA

Mini-plenary 2: Subject for discussion (Ms B P Mbinqo-Gigaba): Creating a better future for children through human development and health provision

Draft resolution (Mr K J Mileham): Establishment an ad hoc committee in terms of Rule 253(1)(a) to exercise oversight over the new Minister of Electricity and the implementation of the Office of Minister Ramokgopa’s programme of action

Meanwhile, there’s lots of action in Committee-land, with a few Cabinet Ministers set to make appearances. Here is a rundown of highlights:

TUESDAY, 2 MAY 2023

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the outstanding minutes; Briefing by Hon MGE Hendricks on the Registration of the Muslim Marriages Bill; Response by the Department of Home Affairs on the Registration of the Muslim Marriages Bill; Consideration and adoption of the budget Vote 5 Report of the Home Affairs Portfolio], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Overview of APPs and Budget Votes by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services; Briefing by the Office of the Chief Justice and Judicial Administration on Annual Performance Plan and Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) and the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB) on the following: Ingonyama Trust Board 2023/24 Annual performance Plan and the MTEF and Estimates of Expenditure in alignment to government priorities; Briefing by the Land Bank on financial support services to farmers and progress report on the implementation of the blended finance scheme/model, Mafisa, AgriBEE and Covid 19 funds], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Transport on its 2022/23 third quarter expenditure; Consideration and adoption of Committee report on the 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget of the Department of Transport; Deliberations on the Railway Safety Bill [B 7-2021]: Consideration of draft Committee report on the Railway Safety Bill Public Hearings; Consideration and adoption of the Committee report on the Department of Transport 2022/23 second quarter expenditure; Consideration and adoption of Committee draft second term programme; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings], Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Engagement on the African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996 (ATC 30 – 2023, 8 March 2023)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Films and Publications Board (FPB) on 2023/24 its Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by BBI on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by USAASA / USAF on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by Sentech on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by NEMISA on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by .ZADNA on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by SITA on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the South African Post Office (SAPO) on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Postbank on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by GCIS on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by MDDA on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan and Budget], Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-18:00

Ad-Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Election of the Co-Chairpersons; Consideration and adoption of the draft programme; Briefing by the support personnel: Status update report from departments and provinces; Follow-up issues emanating from the report of the previous Ad Hoc Joint Committee)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 13:00-14:00

WEDNESDAY, 3 MAY 2023 Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on Annual Performance Plan and Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Public Protector on Annual Performance Plan and Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 15:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Basic Education on the 2023 Appropriation Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Consideration of the IPID Annual Performance Plan and budget for 2023/24; Consideration of the PSIRA Annual Performance Plan and budget for 2023/24], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Auditor-General on the APP reviews for 2023/24 and material irregularity update of the Department of Social Development and its entities for 2023/24 financial year (09:00-10:30); Consideration of the DSD’s Annual Performance Plan and budget for 2023/24 financial year; Consideration and adoption of the draft 2nd Term committee programme (10:30-14:30)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-14:30

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Eskom Board regarding the ex-GCEO (Mr. Andre de Ruyter) on allegations regarding 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

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of Final Mandates and a draft Report on the Division of Revenue Bill [B2 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Security and Justice, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing on the proposed amendments to the Land Court Bill [B11B-2021] (S75); Briefing by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on the Legal Practice Act regulations: Draft Regulations for approval, in terms of section 94(1) of the Legal Practice Act, 2014 (Act No 28 of 2014) and Draft Regulations for approval, submitted in terms of section 94(3) of the Legal Practice Act, 2014 (Act No 28 of 2014); Committee consideration and adoption of the Repeal of the Transkeian Penal Code Bill [B34-2022] (S75); Adoption of the Committee Report on the Repeal of the Transkeian Penal Code Bill [B34-2022] (S75); Briefing on & deliberations on Land Court Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-12:00

THURSDAY, 4 MAY 2023

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Military Ombud on its 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan, including the level of implementation of the Ombud’s recommendations; Consideration of the JSCD 2023/24 Annual Performance Plan; Consideration of outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 5 MAY 2023

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) on the Revised Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 and Annual Performance Plan 2023/24], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-15:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Consideration of the SASSA’s Annual Performance Plan and budget for 2023/24 financial year; Consideration of the NDA’s Annual Performance Plan and budget for 2023/24 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-16:00

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.

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