The Week Ahead: Question Time, Mini-Plenaries & Budget 2022

The Week Ahead: Question Time, Mini-Plenaries & Budget 2022

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 including legislative business and Parliament’s scrutiny of the budget.

On Tuesday, the NA chamber will consider 2 bills: the National Forests Amendment Bill and the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill and assorted committee reports. The plenary agenda also includes routine items like Member’s statements and motions without notice.

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.

There are four mini-plenaries scheduled on Thursday. 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: Subject for discussion (Mr D M Stock): Expanding the comprehensive social security system, in order not to leave anyone behind Mini-plenary 2: Subject for discussion (Mr K J Mileham): The negative impact of the rising cost of high tariffs for electricity and other forms of energy on the Republic Mini-plenary 3: Subject for discussion (EFF): Calling for an end to International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank loans Mini-plenary 4: Subject for discussion (Mr T N Mmutle): Strengthening the security cluster and mobilising society for peace and stability in South Africa, in the region and in Africa

The National Council of Provinces will hold its annual strategic review and planning session between 1 and 3 March. Amongst other issues, lawmakers will review their performance since the start of the Sixth Parliament and discuss their plans for the remaining period. The next installment of the Women’s Charter Report Back Sessions will take place on Friday and the focus will be on the Northern Cape. View Plenary Programme

Beyond this, the South African Parliamentary Institute will hold its first board meeting on Monday.

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, 1 MARCH 2022

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Public hearings on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B1 – 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:30-13:30

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 Financial and Fiscal Commission and Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2022 Budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Hearing: ESKOM on deviations and expansions for quarters one and two of 2021/22], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00

Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on projects that are currently being implemented across all provinces], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2022

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Public hearings on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B1 – 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:30-13:30

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Public hearings on 2022 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by National Treasury on Division of Revenue Bill [B6-2022]], Virtual Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on overview of the recent student protests in higher education institutions; Briefing by the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) on the recent student protests], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the SIU on the status of its investigation into allegations of corruption at the National Lotteries Commission], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Department of Public Enterprises on the mid-term performance report of the Department and state-owned companies, including issues raised by Auditor-General of South Africa], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

THURSDAY, 3 MARCH 2022

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [NCACC Quarterly Report. Follow-up meeting with NDIC on the implementation of the Defence Sector Charter and plans to boost the South African Defence Industry], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 4 MARCH 2022

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Responses by National Treasury on submissions received during public hearings of the 2022 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

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.