There's a full and mixed flavour to the coming week's parliamentary business.
The major points of interest will come from the Question Time session with the Executive and mini-plenaries. There are also several high-profile meetings in the Committee corridor, consideration of several bills and Parliament’s scrutiny of the budget.
On Tuesday, the NA chamber will consider 3 bills: the Public Service Amendment Bill, the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill, and the Statistics Amendment Bill.
On the following day, 6 Ministers in the Peace and Security Cluster will be probed during their Question Time session. Members of Cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions. Everything from specific scandals and programmes to big-picture policy to bread-and-butter issues and performance will be under the microscope.
Legislation is the main focus during Thursday’s sitting. Lawmakers will consider the Copyright Amendment Bill, Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, National Road Traffic Amendment Bill, National Road Traffic Amendment Bill, and the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill. In addition, the House will consider assorted reports relating to the ICASA vacancy and reports of the Powers and Privileges Committee.
There are three mini-plenaries scheduled on Friday. They serve as breakaway sessions of the National Assembly. According to the rules, any matter may be discussed or debated in a mini-plenary session. This mechanism provides an opportunity for the House to debate a particular topic without being required to take a decision at the end of the debate.
Mini-plenary 1: The theme for the debate which was sponsored by Mr S N Swart is: Parliament's role in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, with particular reference to the World Health Organisation's proposed Pandemic Agreement and amendments to the International Health Regulations of 2005.
The theme for the debate, which was sponsored Ms F A Masiko is: Policy oversight over the implementation of the 2019 to 2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework
Mini-plenary 2: The theme for the debate, which was sponsored by Mr B N Herron is: Addressing the triple crisis of low economic growth, high unemployment, and entrenched poverty. The theme for the debate which was sponsored by Dr M M E Tlhape is: Critical assessment of land reform and agrarian transformation in supporting small and medium-scale black farmers to ensure food security and growth in the agricultural sector.
Mini-plenary 3: The theme for the debate, which was sponsored by Dr L A Schreiber is: The need to professionalise the Republic’s public administration to improve service delivery for South Africans.
The theme for the debate, which was sponsored by Mr M Shikwambana, is: Provision of fee-free higher education for all in South Africa.
Elsewhere, the NCOP has only arranged one sitting this week. It will meet on Tuesday to consider the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill and the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill.
Exercising budgetary and fiscal oversight is one of Parliament's basic tasks. The Budget presented by the Minister is not the final budget but a proposal that has to be scrutinised and approved by Parliament.
The Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act of 2009 gives Parliament a formalised procedure for amending the budget. The Act gives Parliament unrestricted power to change the fiscal framework, the Division of Revenue (Division of Revenue Bill) allocations, and tax policy. Throughout the Act, there are requirements for holding public hearings during the approval or amendment process. The finance committees have to conduct public hearings on the fiscal framework, revenue proposals, and revenue bills. The appropriations committees must hold public hearings on the Appropriation Bill and the Division of Revenue Bill.
The finance committees must send a report to the National Assembly and NCOP on the fiscal framework and revenue proposals within sixteen days of budget tabling. As a result of this deadline, public hearings and engagements on the fiscal framework are scheduled this week
Beyond this, five Premiers will deliver their State of the Province Address this week. View here
It’s a busy week in the Committee corridor. Everything from detailed law-making to Executive scrutiny, to important spending decisions and big-picture policy will be under the microscope. Here is a rundown of the highlights:
TUESDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2024
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Draft A-List of the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill [B24-2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
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), [Briefing by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) and the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) on the 2024 Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs on the progress of establishing the Electoral Reform Consultation Panel; Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), the Border Management Authority (BMA), the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Government Printing Works (GPW) on budget allocations for the 2024-25 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department (DCDT) and the Auditor-General on progress towards resolving audit recommendations; Broadcasting State of Readiness ahead of National General Elections, The DCDT and GCIS and all Entities reporting to the Departments; Briefing by the Oversight Task Team on the SAPO/BRP implementation; Adoption of the 2023/24 First and Second Quarter Expenditure and Financial Reports of the DCDT and GCIS; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Report back by the Municipal Demarcation Board on issues raised during the public hearings on the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill – (Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – National Assembly)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Continuation of Deliberations on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill [B23 – 2023]], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Continuation of Deliberations on the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill [B25 – 2023]], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 18:00-21:00
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Basic Education on the following: Analysis, Implications, and Impact of the President’s SONA 2024; Updated Status Report on ECD Migration; Consideration and Adoption of draft minutes – Tues, 20 February 2024], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Follow-up: Relocation of illegal dwellers on railway reserve between Philippi and Langa: stakeholder engagement – Presidential Project], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:30
WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Public hearings on the 2024 Budget (Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Treasury on the 2024 Division of Revenue Bill; Second Adjustments Amendment Bill and the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account Defrayal Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [09:00-11:00: Update by the Department of Human Settlements on the acquisition of state-owned land including Priority Development Areas and measures to curb land invasion/unlawful land occupation; 11:00-12:45: Presentation on the Third Quarter Report (Oct to Dec 2023) of the Department of Human Settlements; 12:45-13:00: Consideration and adoption of minutes and reports by the Committee], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on: Progress with 2024 registration and enrolment and mitigation plan for the smooth commencement of the 2024 academic year in the PSET system; 2023/24 First, Second and Third Quarters Expenditure and Performance Reports; Update on the certification backlog in the TVET and CET colleges; Update on the feasibility studies report into the establishment of universities of Crime Detection in Hammanskraal and Science and Innovation in Ekurhuleni; Consideration of minutes and report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Clause-by-clause deliberations on the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill [B 42 - 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Continuation of Deliberations on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill [B23 – 2023]], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Continuation of Deliberations on the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill [B25 – 2023]], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 14:00-18:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by South African Airways on the outstanding annual reports and financial statements;], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Follow up meeting with the Minister of Public Enterprises on the allegations of irregularities in the SAA transition], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 14:00-17:00
THURSDAY, 29 FEBRUARY 2024
Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Mil Ombud on its mid-year performance and expenditure and community engagement during domestic SANDF deployments; Consideration of outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00
FRIDAY, 1 MARCH 2024
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing on Parliament of RSA’s 2023/24 Quarter performance], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-10:00
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Response by National Treasury and SARS to the submissions received on the 2024 Budget (Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Continuation of Deliberations on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill [B23 – 2023]], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
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.
The schedule is subject to frequent changes and needs to be checked daily.
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