Parliament, Sunday, 17 November 2024 – On Tuesday at 14:00, delegates to the NCOP will participate in a debate titled “Accelerating Land Redistribution and Agricultural Development for Inclusive Growth”. Also on Wednesday, the Council will consider the report of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries following an oversight visit to the Gauteng Education Department. This will be followed by a debate on the decline of the rural economy, caused, amongst others, by a lack of rural safety and poor service delivery.
On Thursday at 14:00, the NCOP plenary will debate the significant increase in electricity costs due to NERSA’s decision to retrospectively approve Eskom’s application to raise charges. The discussion will also focus on measures to protect the most vulnerable individuals from the rising cost of living.
On Friday, at 10:00, the ministers of the Social Services Cluster (2B) will appear before permanent delegates to the NCOP in a hybrid question-and-answer session. Cluster 2B comprises the national departments of Health and Social Development.
As stipulated in section 92(2) of the Constitution, oral question-and-answer sessions are among the methods Parliament employs to hold the executive accountable. Members of the Executive (the President, Deputy President, and Cabinet Ministers) are collectively and individually accountable to Parliament for exercising their powers and performing their functions.
The National Assembly has during this 7th Parliament strategically reorganised its programme into dedicated weekly rotations for committee oversight, constituency engagement, and plenary sittings, marking a significant step in enhancing its constitutional mandate and serving the public interest. This structured approach allows Members of Parliament to concentrate fully on each core function without the scheduling conflicts that previously diluted their effectiveness. During oversight weeks, committees can conduct in-depth investigations and hold the executive accountable, while constituency weeks enable meaningful and direct engagement with communities. Plenary weeks, informed by oversight findings and constituency concerns, focus on effective law-making. This systematic rotation not only improves the quality of parliamentary work but also strengthens democracy through enhanced accountability, more effective public engagement, and responsive legislation. The streamlined approach also aims to accelerate service delivery by ensuring that parliamentary oversight leads to tangible improvements in public services and governance.
In accordance with this approach, the members of the National Assembly will from Monday embark on a week-long Committee Week programme. Parliamentary committees are considered the engine rooms of Parliament as most of the work is done by committees. They are the place where members of the public can express their opinions directly and try to influence the outcome of Parliament’s decisions.
There are 24 committee meetings scheduled for this week, as outlined below:
TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER
Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities: Consideration and adoption of the Committee Programme, report and minutes; Briefing by Dr Tembe (OISD) legal opinion and selection criteria; Briefing by the Content Advisor on the recruitment process of the NYDA Board and overview of applications received. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-10:30
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Engagement on the state of Merafong Local Municipality. Merafong Municipality Chambers, 09:00-13:00.
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Briefing by AGSA on the audit outcomes and financial statements for 2023/24 for the following departmental entities: the Department of Defence, the Department of Military Veterans, and Denel. Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00
Portfolio Committee on Transport: Briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Services on the Economic Regulation of Transport Amendment Bill of 2024 and consideration and adoption of interim report on the Bill; Consideration and adoption of report on the Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill of 2020; Consideration of written submissions on the Merchant Shipping Bill of 2023; Consideration and adoption of draft Transnet oversight programme; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament: 09:30
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Consideration and Adoption of Draft Minutes and Draft Reports; Briefing by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on International Assessments (PIRLS and TIMMS); Update from Task Team on Implementation of History as a Compulsory Subject. Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Consideration and adoption of draft committee minutes; Consideration and adoption of the Eastern Cape Oversight Report; Tabling of the Minister’s rejection to the PanSALB Board; Briefing by the Cultural Creative Industries Federation of South Africa 2015-2024; Briefing by Freedom Park on the 2023/24 Annual Report and other pertinent matters. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources: Briefing by DMPR on Junior Mining Exploration Fund and Small-Scale mining projects; Consideration of the Report of Commission for Gender Equality – Step in the right Direction? A Review of the Implementation of CGE Recommendations by African Rainbow Minerals (2024). [ATC No 7, 10 July 2024]; Consideration and adoption of an Oversight report to the Mines (Northwest and GP); Consideration and adoption of Minutes of 23 and 29 October 2024). Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology and Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition: Briefing by the DSTI on the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Research, Development and Innovation Strategy and the Hydrogen Society Roadmap. Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Briefing by the department on its farmer support programmes, including the status of the National Policy on Comprehensive Producer Development Support; Briefing by the Department on the Farmer Production Support Units (FPSUs) and their functionality; Update by the department on the Animal Welfare Bill and the status of the Marketing of Agricultural Products Amendment Bill and the Perishable Products Export; Report by the Department on the Committee’s 2024/24 Budget Vote recommendations. Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:30-17:00
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Briefing by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa on the work done to improve tourism in South Africa; Briefing by the Department of Tourism on the safety strategy for the tourism sector; Consideration and adoption of minutes. Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00.
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services: Overview of 2023/24 Annual Report of Department of Correctional Services by the Auditor-General South Africa; Overview of 2023/24 Annual Report by the Minister of Correctional Services; Briefing by the Department of Correctional Services on 2023/24 Annual Report; Briefing by the Department of Correctional Services on Audit Action Plan, including measures to address issues of exceptional litigation raised by the Auditor-General in previous reports. Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00
Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings: Consideration and adoption of the Khutsong petition report, a petition requesting the National Council of Provinces to facilitate the declaration of Khutsong in Gauteng, a national disaster area due to the escalating of large sinkholes in the area; Consideration of outstanding minutes. Venue to be confirmed, 10:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Briefing by the department and related entities on the progress of the analogue switch-off before the final date of 31 December 2024; Briefing by the department on the responses received on the SABC Bill; Briefing by the department on update on the SABC DTT and DTH strategy emanating from the SABC decoder tender to move into Satellite; Adoption of minutes. FFC Building, 33 Heerengracht, 11th Floor, Cape Town, 10:00-18:00
Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by South African Local Government Association and Financial and Fiscal Commission on 2024 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. FFC, 10:00-13:00
Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries: (National Council of Provinces), Consideration and adoption of Draft Minutes; Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training on their 2023/2024 Annual Report. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development – An introduction to the Department and key entities of the Department, Mandates and responsibilities; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes. Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00
WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER
Portfolio Committee on Police: Briefing by the SAPS on Capacitation of Specialised Units; Briefing by the SAPS on progress made regarding Capital Works Project (construction and maintenance of police stations), including updates on the investigation into the Telkom Towers Complex, Security upgrading at the police stations in terms of the Infrastructure Safety Plan, including technology requirements such as CCTV and access control, amongst others. Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:00-15:00.
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training: Briefing by the DHET on the Second quarter 2024/25 performance report; Key legislation administered by the department and legislation planned for review. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy: Briefing by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on the Just Energy Transition Plan and the implementation plan; Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Briefing by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) on corruption cases referred by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) concerning departments, entities, and municipalities. Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Tabling and presentation of the 2023-24 Public Finance Management Act national and provincial audit outcomes by the Auditor-General of South Africa. Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 14:00-17:00
Portfolio Committee on Social Development: Briefing by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) on its research studies and findings on the scope of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, evaluation of prevention interventions for both women and men; 11:30-14:30: Briefing by the Department of Social Development on progress made in implementing the National Strategy on the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The presentation should also include programmes aimed at addressing teenage pregnancy. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-15:00.
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development: Ease of Doing Business in South Africa: Issues for Consideration; Entrepreneurial Finance Imperative for Growth and Employment; Consideration and Adoption of the Committee Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, and Standing Committee on Finance: Meeting with the Standing Committee on Finance to engage National Treasury, Competition Commission, and NCR on the regulation of the banking sector about credit provision and competition matters. Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements: Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on the Strategy to deal with Illegal Occupation of Houses, Illegal Occupation of Land as well as Illegal Sales of State Subsidised Houses; Briefing by Western Cape Department of Infrastructure - Human Settlements Branch and Stellenbosch Local Municipality on the plans to upgrade Informal Settlements in the Stellenbosch area. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00.
Select Committee on Social Services: Final Mandates on the Older Persons Amendment Bill of 2022 and Consideration and Adoption of the Committee Report on the Bill; Briefing by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on the Annual Report 2023/24; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies and Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology: Joint briefing with Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology and its relevant entities on the establishment and the status of the satellite draft strategy launched by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) and progress made on its implementation. Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: Briefing by the DOD on consequence management in the Department about irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure; Briefing by the DOD on its 2024/25 First and Second Quarter expenditure and performance; Consideration of outstanding minutes. Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-16:00
Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the status of Special Economic Zones and Industrial Development Zones in the country; Consideration and adoption of Minutes. Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00
Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by PBO on 2024 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, 2024 Adjustments Appropriation Bill, and 2024 Special Appropriation Bill, FFC, 10:00-13:00
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in Presidency: Consideration of the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Annual Report. Venue to be confirmed, 10:00-13:00
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the Minister and Department of Military Veterans on the Annual Performance Plan 2024/25 and Budget, and performance information for 2023/24 Annual Report; Committee discussion/reply by Minister and Department. NSFAS Venue, The Halyard No4, Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town, 10:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Adoption of the public hearings report on the Public Service Commission Bill of 2023; Report on the motion of desirability; Consideration and deliberations of clause-by-clause of the PSC Bill; Consideration and adoption of the minutes. Committee Room S26, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-16:30
Select Committee on Finance: Briefing by National Treasury and SARS on Tax Bills: Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB); Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB); Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendments of Revenue Laws Bill (Rates Bill); Global Minimum Tax Bill; Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill], Venue to be confirmed, After NCOP plenary (Approx. 18:00)
THURSDAY, 21 NOVEMBER
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Briefing by the DPWI Governance Risk and Compliance Branch (GRC) with the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) on an update regarding all outstanding cases of alleged corruption; Consideration and adoption of minutes of the previous meeting. Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development: To consider and adopt draft minutes of 15, 22 and 23 October 2024. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-10:30
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition: Briefing by the SIU, SAPS, Hawks and NPA on the developments in the investigations and prosecutions concerning the alleged corruption and maladministration at the NLC. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00
Select Committee on Appropriations: Public hearings on the 2024 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 17:00-20:00
FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Briefing by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the South African Rugby Union on the details of the equity sale. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Capacity Building Workshop Feedback session with the National School of Government. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition and Standing Committee on Finance: Meeting with Standing Committee on Finance to engage National Treasury, Competition Commission and NCR on the regulation of the banking sector about credit provision and competition matters. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
For the latest full schedule of Committee meetings (updated regularly), please visit: https://www.parliament.gov.za/committee-schedules
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