Parliament, Sunday, 28 January 2024 – Members of Parliament are returning from a six-week break and constituency period to a busy schedule for the first term of 2024. The schedule includes a two-day legislative sector oversight summit, the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech, committee meetings, and public hearings.
The Speaker's Forum of South Africa, which oversees the management and coordination of the legislative sector programmes, will convene a two-day sector oversight summit from Tuesday, 30 January to Wednesday, 31 January. The theme of the summit is "Striving for Oversight that ensures the realisation of a better life for all South Africans".
The forum consists of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of all nine provincial legislatures. The Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the NCOP co-chair the forum.
The 2024 South African Legislative Sector Oversight Summit aims to reflect on the effectiveness of the legislative sector's role in implementing the constitutional mandates of oversight, public involvement, and law-making. It seeks to explore transformational approaches and strategies for effective sector oversight, share experiences within the sector, and exchange ideas with regional, continental, and international counterparts on effective oversight practices.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile will give a keynote address and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will share the judicial perspectives on oversight. The European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Ms Sandra Kramer, will also attend the summit.
Other distinguished guests expected at the summit to engage, share perspectives on the effectiveness of oversight, and explore possible partnerships and opportunities for collaboration include the President of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), and Speaker of Parliament of Tanzania Dr Tulia Ackson, Senior Parliamentary Official of the Italian Senate and Adjunct Professor at LUISS University, Prof. Elena Griglio, and Speaker of Gauteng Legislature and Treasurer of CPA Africa Region, Ms Ntombi Mekgwe.
From Monday to Wednesday, in preparation for the upcoming 2024 State of the Nation Address, members of Parliament will attend a workshop on the recent amendments to the Joint Rules of Parliament.
Meanwhile, parliamentary committees of both houses of Parliament have scheduled three meetings this week. The Powers and Privileges Committee will meet on Tuesday to discuss the Ethics report on Mr Mosebenzi Zwane. The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration will discuss the report on the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill and Public Service Amendment Bill. Lastly, the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will consider its programme for the term and discuss its Annual Report and Legacy Report.
True to Parliament’s commitment to meaningful public participation in the law-making process, some parliamentary committees have resumed public hearings across the country to solicit input and views from the public on important bills. The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy is conducting its public hearings on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill that started on Friday and Saturday at Thabo Mafutsanyane and Lejweleputswe District Municipalities in the Free State province. Tomorrow, the hearings will be held at the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality, Zeerust Town Hall in North West.
Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Health is today in the Eastern Cape conducting its last public hearing on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill, which also commenced last Friday.
For the latest full schedule of committee meetings (updated regularly), please click: https://www.parliament.gov.za/storage/app/media/Docs/zlist/8a8caed9-0304-4824-acc1-fd695d8eb041.pdf
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