Parliament, Sunday 2 September 2018 – Plenary sittings, on Tuesday, of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces are expected to debate draft resolutions to launch the South Africa Chapter of the Global TB Caucus of Parliamentarians.

This is a worldwide network of parliamentarians which Minister of health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi co-chairs and which galvanizes parliamentarians to become champions in the fight against tuberculosis (TB). TB is the world’s leading infectious disease killer, although it can be treated and cured. South Africa made world history in June when the Department of Health announced that drug-resistant TB patients would be eligible to receive a new oral medicine, bedaquiline. Treating such patients has been difficult because of the many negative side effects of older medicines.

Plenary house sittings programmes also include oral question and answer sessions with Deputy President David Mabuza and with Ministers. These sessions are one of the ways in which Parliament holds the executive and the President to account.

Deputy President David Mabuza is scheduled to answer questions for oral reply at Thursday’s plenary sitting of the National Council of Provinces. This follows his oral question and answer session in the National Assembly last week.

Governance Cluster Ministers are scheduled to answer questions for oral reply at the National Assembly plenary sitting on Wednesday. The cluster comprises four ministries – Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister in the Presidency, Minister of Women in the Presidency, Public Service and Administration.

The Joint Constitutional Review Committee will, from 4 to 7 September, conduct its public hearings into a possible amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution at Parliament, with organisations and individuals who indicated in their written submissions that they would also like to make oral submissions at Parliament and have, so far, confirmed their availability during the given period. The hearings at Parliament are another phase in the committee process, after it concluded public hearings in all nine provinces.

A joint meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on the Steinhoff matter takes place on Wednesday, with former company Chief Executive Officer Mr Markus Jooste scheduled to appear. He will give evidence under oath and answer questions to assist the committees to identify any institutional flaws and challenges existing in the relevant financial regulatory framework or any implementation challenges in the financial regulatory framework which might have caused or given rise to the collapse of the value of Steinhoff shares.

On Thursday, the National Assembly is scheduled to consider, among other matters, a subject for discussion: “Working towards an integrated and comprehensive infrastructure development strategy to fight poverty, inequality, unemployment and underdevelopment.”

Three Bills – and candidates nominated for appointment as members of the Electoral Commission – are scheduled for consideration at House plenary sittings this week.

Another 12 Bills are scheduled for committee meetings – the Administrative Adjudication Road Traffic Offences Amendment Bill, Banks Amendment Bill, Copyright Amendment Bill, Films and Publication Bill, IKamva National e-Skills Institute Bill, Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Amendment Bill, National Credit Amendment Bill, National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill, Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, Property Practitioners Bill, Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill and the Road Accident Benefit Scheme Bill.

Other matters scheduled for committee meetings include quarterly and performance reports of government departments and entities and several topical issues.

Committee meetings from Tuesday to Friday include:

Portfolio Committee on Communications: Shortlisting of candidates for the South African Broadcasting Corporation Board and Media Development and Diversity Board – Tuesday

Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Independent Police Investigative Directorate briefing on investigations of high-profile cases – Tuesday

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Provincial Departments of Agriculture briefing on state of readiness for 2018/19 planting season: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape. Also GrainSA and Agricultural Research Council – Tuesday

Portfolio Committee on Energy: Minister of Energy and Department of Energy briefing on Updated Integrated Resource Plan – Tuesday

Select Committee on Finance: City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality briefing on its socio-economic overview; detailed performance of the budget including fiscal position, revenue management, spending, infrastructure delivery and progress in implementing the Integrated Development Plan – Tuesday

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry: Public hearings on Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill – Wednesday, Thursday

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training: Public hearings on National Qualifications Framework Amendment Bill – Wednesday

Portfolio Committee on Labour: Briefing from content advisor on High Level Panel’s recommendations related to labour sector – Wednesday

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises: Deliberations on Eskom Inquiry report – Wednesday

Select Committee on Appropriations: Discussion on implementation of Education Infrastructure Grant with National Treasury; national and provincial education departments, departments of public works; Construction Industry Development Board; Financial and Fiscal Commission – Friday

To read the full schedule of committee meetings (updated regularly) please

click  https://www.parliament.gov.za/whatson

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo