Parliament, Sunday 07 June 2020 – Hybrid plenary sittings of the National Assembly, the last leg of the virtual provincial review sessions of the 1994 Women’s Charter for Effective Equality in the Northern Cape and an extensive oversight over the executive by the Parliamentary Committees dominate matters in Parliament’s programme this week.
The National Assembly is scheduled to hold its second hybrid sitting on Tuesday, 9 June 2020 at 14:00 to consider amongst others, three Bills, namely, the Social Assistance Amendment Bill, Prescription in Civil and Criminal Matters (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill and the Recognition of Customary Marriages Amendment Bill.
The Recognition of Customary Marriages Amendment Bill [B12 - 2019] aims to address a Constitutional Court ruling that section 7(1) of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act of 1998 was inconsistent with the Constitution and invalid. This was because the section limited the right to human dignity and discriminated unfairly based on gender and race, ethnic or social origin against women who entered into polygamous customary marriages before the 1998 Recognition of Customary Marriages Act.
Also on the agenda for Tuesday’s sittings is the consideration of reports recommending candidates to fill five vacancies on the Council of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa and Budget Votes.
The provincial review of the 1994 Women’s Charter for Effective Equality sessions led by the Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Ms Sylvia Lucas, will hold its last leg of virtual sessions with the Namakwa District on Wednesday, 10 June 2020 and the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality on Friday, 12 June 2020. The sessions are aimed at taking stock of the progress made in the implementation of the articles of the 1994 Women’s Charter for Effective Equality and assess its impact since the dawn of democracy. So far, four of the five districts of the Northern Cape have held virtual sessions.
On Friday, the National Assembly will at 10:00 hold a hybrid plenary sitting to consider the 2020 Appropriation Bill with its votes and schedules.
At least 34 meetings of the Committees of the two Houses – The National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces - are scheduled to hold virtual oversight meetings this week.
TUESDAY, 9 JUNE 2020
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, Briefing by Parliamentary Budget Office on the digital economy and Taxation policy;
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Briefing by the Minister of the Public Enterprises regarding the liquidation process in SA Express;
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Briefing by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology on: Establishment of the Ministerial Task Team on review of the NSFAS business processes; Update on the decision by the Committee requesting the Minister to institute the review on remuneration of University Vice- Chancellors (VCs);
WEDNESDAY, 10 JUNE 2020
Select Committee on Appropriations, Consultation with Financial and Fiscal Commission and Parliamentary Budget Office on the Appropriation Bill;
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Health and Select Committee on Health and Social Services, Briefing by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) on their strategies and plans to deal with Covid-19 test results and backlogs; Briefing by Life Healthcare Group on their state of readiness for Covid- 19; Briefing by Netcare on their state of readiness for Covid-19;
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Briefing by Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality on the their response plans for COVID-19;
Portfolio Committee on Transport, Follow-up briefing by the Minister of Transport on the implementation of level 3 of Covid-19 regulations], Virtual Meeting Platform.
THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2020
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Briefing by the Department of Social Development on its fourth term quarterly financial and non-financial performance report for 2019/20 financial year (Jan – March 2020); Update on progress made to respond to Covid19 pandemic issues
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, Briefing by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the appointment of youth into learnership, internship and artisan programmes. Briefing by the National School of Government on the unemployed graduates and internships undergoing Public Service orientation
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Follow-up meeting with City of Cape Town on its COVID-19 response plans.
FRIDAY, 12 JUNE 2020
Multi-Party Women’s Caucus (Steering Committee), Analyses of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide: Content Adviser and Researcher briefing;
National Strategic Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide: Preparatory briefing by the Department of Women, Youth and People with Disabilities;
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Matters of current affairs with respect to universities: Sefako Makgatho University;
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, Consideration of the Committee’s report on Parliament’s performance in the 4th quarter of 2019/20; Consideration of the Committee’s strategic planning programme.
For a full list of the Committees, visit Parliament’s website www.parliament.gov.za
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