Parliament, Sunday 7 March 2021 – Oral question and answer sessions with Deputy President David Mabuza and with Cabinet Ministers, the 2021 Budget and Bills are among issues featuring at sittings of the National Assembly (NA) and National Council of Provinces (NCOP) this week. The Budget, Bills and issues of public interest are also scheduled for committee meetings of these two Houses of Parliament this week.
On Tuesday, the NA sitting, starting at 14.00, is scheduled to consider the Correctional Services Amendment Bill. This Bill aims to amend provisions related to parole for offenders, contained in the 1998 Correctional Services Act, among other things.
The NA sitting on Wednesday, starting at 15.00, is scheduled to hold an oral questions session with the Ministers of Basic Education; Health; Higher Education, Science and Innovation; Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation; Social Development; and Sports, Arts and Culture. For the question paper, please click: here
This sitting is also scheduled to consider the report on the 2021 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals from the Standing Committee on Finance. Minister of Finance Mr Tito Mboweni tabled the 2021 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals on 24 February when he delivered his Budget Speech to Parliament. They give effect to the Executive’s macro-economic policy. They include estimates of all revenue (budgetary and extra budgetary, specified separately) expected to be raised and estimates of borrowing for a particular financial year.
On Thursday and Friday, the NA is scheduled to hold eight mini-plenary sessions. Thursday’s ones are scheduled to cover: restructuring of South Africa’s intelligence and security architecture; implications of privatising ESKOM; creating a safe and secure cyber security environment; the growing crisis of unemployment and the need for government to prioritise opportunities for low and no-skilled South Africans.
Friday’s mini-plenaries are scheduled to deal with: minimum wages, red-tape and prescriptive legislation; negative consequences of government corruption on the people and development of South Africa; why South Africa can no longer afford to delay implementing a Basic Income Grant; constraints impacting on the road transport sector in dealing with conflict in the trucking industry and having a negative impact on the economy
On Tuesday, the NCOP plenary sitting starting at 14.00 is scheduled to hold an oral question and answer session with the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. For the question paper, please click here.
The NCOP plenary sitting starting at 10.00 on Wednesday is scheduled to consider the report of the Select Committee on Finance on the 2021 Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals. This sitting is also scheduled to consider the National Gambling Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to amend the National Gambling Act of 2004 to, among other things, provide for establishment of the National Gambling Regulator (to replace the National Gambling Board); and a procedure for forfeiting unlawful winnings to the National Gambling Regulator.
On Thursday, the NCOP plenary sitting starting at 14.00 is scheduled to feature an oral question and answer session with Deputy President Mabuza. For the question paper, please click: https://www.parliament.gov.za/storage/app/media/Docs/quest_pap/fc039405-2fe0-467b-a887-e5e8f13a0b99.pdf
Chairperson of the NCOP Mr Amos Masondo will also, on Wednesday, deliver an address to a webinar on Human Rights, Non-Racialism and Role of NCOP, which the Castro and Monica Mayatula Foundation is hosting. The foundation honours contributions of Reverand Mashwabada “Castro” Mayatula, in the liberation struggle, and Monica Mayatula, in the education sector.
Also scheduled this week are High-Level Sessions on the Women’s Charter Review. The sessions, led by NCOP Deputy Chairperson Ms Sylvia Lucas and NA Deputy Speaker Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, are scheduled for KwaZulu Natal on Wednesday and for the Western Cape on Friday.
The NA and NCOP are also scheduled to hold their Programme Committee meetings from 8.30 on Thursday and, on Tuesday, the NA Rules is scheduled to meet from 11.00.
There are about 55 committee meetings scheduled this week, including:
TUESDAY, 9 MARCH 2021
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Interviews: South African Human Rights Commission
Standing Committee on Appropriations, Comments by the Financial and Fiscal Commission and Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2021 Division of Revenue Bill
Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Briefing by Commission for Gender Equality on Investigative Report of Commission for Gender Equality – State of Shelters in South Africa 2018; Research Report of Commission for Gender Equality – Accounting for work in Progress Assessing progress on establishment of national co-ordinating structure on gender-based violence for 2020 and on Policy Brief 18: Policing violence against women-accessing local police stations
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, briefing by Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) on proposed amendments to Electoral Laws Amendment Bill and briefing by Lawyers for Human Rights on matter of statelessness
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, a briefing by Caster Semenya Management on issues relating to her case on the new International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Regulations.
WEDNESDAY, 10 MARCH 2021
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Hearing on Denel annual report for financial year 2019/20, SIU investigations and deviations, and expansions 2020/21
Standing Committee on Appropriations, National Treasury briefing on 2021 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill
Select Committee on Appropriations, Briefing by National Treasury on Division of Revenue Bill [B3-2021]
Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communication, Update by Eskom on unbundling process as announced by the Minister
Standing Committee on Finance, Briefing by National Treasury on Financial Sector Laws Amendment Bill
THURSDAY, 11 MARCH 2021
Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Follow-up meeting with National Defence Industry Council (NDIC), Aerospace Maritime & Defence Industries Association (AMD), National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC), Armscor and Denel on progress and challenges
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Engagement on the state of Municipalities by: Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality; Mumusa Local Municipality; Kagisano-Molopo Local Municipality; Provincial Cogta (NW); Provincial Treasury (NW)
Portfolio Committee on Transport, Public hearings on National Road Traffic Amendment Bill
FRIDAY, 12 MARCH 2021
Standing Committee on Appropriations, Public hearings on 2021 Division of Revenue Bill
Portfolio Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Engagement on the state of municipalities with Amathole District Municipality and all local municipalities: Amathole District Municipality; Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality; Amathlati Local Municipality; Great Kei local Municipality; Mnquma Local Municipality; Mbashe Local Municipality; Office of the AG; SALGA; Provincial Cogta and Treasury; DCoG
Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, Briefing by the acting Secretary to Parliament on the institution’s performance in third quarter of 2019
For the latest full schedule of committee meetings (updated regularly) please go to:
https://www.parliament.gov.za/committee-meetings
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