The Week Ahead: Quiet Week Ahead

There's a distinct lull in Parliament this week, as the legislature makes the most of the mid-week public holiday. Most committees have postponed their activities and only one day has been set aside for parliamentary business.

It’s the second of week of budget debates and 3 Ministers - Public Enterprises, Rural Development and Land Reform and Finance - will take to the podium to deliver their speeches on Tuesday. So far, the proceedings have followed a familiar pattern – some interesting announcements, plenty of sniping and bickering, and eventually the ANC triumphing despite opposition. Click here to read all the budget vote speeches and some responses.

Even though the agenda suggests a quiet week lies ahead, unscheduled events like emerging scandals, squabbles and underlying tensions could generate headlines. Just yesterday, Parliament had to reject reports by two Sunday newspapers claiming that it blew R1m on a jaunt to London. Lurking just offstage are several other sensitive issues: the overhauling of the rules, the ongoing fallout from the Nkandla saga and appointments of the Inspecor-General of Intelligence and Information Regulator.

Here is what is taking place in committee-land (normally this would be a run down of the highlights but there only 6 meetings scheduled):

TUESDAY, 26 APRIL 2016

Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, (National Assembly), [Presentation and adoption of the Committee Budget Vote Report and outstanding minutes]

Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs, (National Assembly), [Adoption of the Committee Budget Vote Report, 2016]

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on its Fourth Quarter report 2015/16 financial year (January to March 2016); Consideration of the Regulations tabled in terms of the Community Schemes Ombud Service Act, 2011 (Act No 9 of 2011) and the Sectional Title Schemes Management Act, 2011 (Act No 8 of 2011) by the Committee; Consideration and adoption of the Committee Report on the Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and Budget 2015/16 of the Department of Human Settlements: Vote 38; Consideration and adoption of outstanding minutes]

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Adoption of the committee report on the strategic plan and budget vote of the Department of Social Development and its entities]

Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Mineral Resources on its revised 5 year Strategic Plan; Consideration and adoption of Minutes]

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Consideration of Budget Vote report (Vote 10, National Treasury); Voting on Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill [B33- 2015]