Even with the Youth Day Holiday to compress the parliamentary week, the legislature has arranged a substantial programme in the main chambers, which includes ministerial statements, policy debates, oral questions and the processing of assorted bills and statutory instruments.
No surprises, President Zuma will grab the limelight when he answers oral questions in the National Assembly on Thursday. Given past appearances, this session is likely to be another flashpoint, as MPs probe the President about unemployment, global relations, xenophobia and the support given to Chapter 9 institutions.
Elsewhere, the Deputy President will also respond to a mixture of questions during his oral reply session in the upper House on Wednesday. This includes enquiries about wage inequality, the Employment Tax Incentive, HIV/AIDS and cost-cutting measures by the government.
Beyond this, brace yourself for some heated exchanges during the Economic Cluster question session as Ministers are questioned on the new visa regulations, new e-toll dispensation policy, security upgrades at the President's Nkandla residence and the recently agreed to African Growth and Opportunity Act.
The Committee corridor is a thin this week but there are a few meetings likely to create big headlines:
On Wednesday, the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation will discuss the South Africa–Cuba relations and the latest developments in the Cuba-US relations. The Committee has already weighed in on the court application to have Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, arrested and will have more to say when the Committee meets.
The Department of Public Works will give a follow-up briefing to the Portfolio Committee on Police on the status of facilities at border posts and police stations. The Committee had previously voiced concern about the shocking and disgraceful DPW facilities, including the lack of ablution facilities, and office space. Announced last year, South Africa is set to establish a Border Management Agency by 2016 to enhance security around its borders. MPs get an opportunity to learn more about this initiative from the Department of Home Affairs.
The South African Government’s strategy of shifting the transportation of goods from road to rail will be in the spotlight when Transnet briefs MPs on this topic.The state entity reported earlier this month that it had secured a R30 billion loan from the China Development Bank to finance the modernisation of its aging train fleet.
Nedlac will brief the Labour Committee on its Forensic Audit Report. According to media reports earlier in the year, the report had found that the Minister of Labour's adviser had “ripped off” the government-funded entity by more than R1-million.
In between, there is some detailed legislating as committees conduct public hearings on the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, ESKOM Special Appropriation Bill and the ESKOM Subordinated Loan Special Appropriation Amendment Bill. The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development will begin considering the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill and the Maintenance Amendment Bill.
Click here for the full list of meetings.
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