Parliament, Sunday 9 May 2021 – Oral question and answer sessions with Deputy President David Mabuza and Economics Cluster Cabinet Ministers, a debate of National Public Interest, virtual Public Hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill and Committee Meetings are some of the items featured in Parliament this week.
On Tuesday, the National Assembly (NA) sitting, starting at 14.00, is scheduled to consider the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill. This Bill aims to amend the Civil Aviation Act, 2009, and to rectify references to certain Ministries and Government Departments; to amend Chapter 4 of the Act to make provision for the operational independence of aircraft accident and incident investigation, among other things. At the same sitting, a debate of National Public Interest themed “The unfolding DNA crisis at the South African Police Services” is also scheduled.
The NA sitting on Wednesday, starting at 15.00, is scheduled to hold an oral questions session with Deputy President David Mabuza. Regular plenary House sittings featuring question and answer sessions with members of the Executive is one way in which Parliament fulfils its constitutional responsibility of scrutinising and overseeing executive actions.
The NA will dedicate Thursday and Friday to 8 mini-plenaries to deal with Budget Votes of government departments. Thursday’s programme features budget votes of Department of Health, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Higher Education and Training and Sports, Arts and Culture. Friday’s are the Department of Employment and Labour; Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and Statistics South Africa.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Provinces is scheduled to hold an oral question and answer session with the Economic Cluster Ministers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday’s plenary sitting, starting at 10:00, comprises of Ministries of Small Business Development and Trade, Industry and Competition. Wednesday’s sitting starting at 14:00 will feature the Mineral Resources and Energy and Transport Ministers.
Also scheduled on Friday is the Women Charter Launch that will table a report of the Provincial review findings. This programme is led by NCOP Deputy Chairperson Ms Sylvia Lucas and NA Deputy Speaker Mr Lechesa Tsenoli.
There are about 60 committee meetings scheduled this week, including virtual public hearings of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the Children’s Amendment Bill from Tuesday to Friday. The Bill seeks to amend the Children’s Act, 2005, so as to amend and insert certain definitions; to provide for children’s right to privacy and protection of information; to further provide for the rights of unmarried fathers; to extend the children’s court jurisdiction; to further provide for funding of early childhood development programmes among others. The meetings of both houses are as follows:
TUESDAY, 11 MAY 2021
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Virtual public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development;
Standing Committee on Finance, Consideration and adoption of the Committee report on National Treasury Budget Vote;
Portfolio Committee on Transport, Consideration of the draft report on the 2021/22 Annual Performance Plans of the Department of Transport and its entities: Finalisation of observations and recommendations; Finalisation of draft Committee 2021/22 APP;
Standing Committee on Appropriations, Comment by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the Appropriation Bill [B4-2021] and the Special Appropriation Bill [B5-2021];
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Consideration and adoption of the 2021/22 Budget Vote Report; Briefing by the National Arts Council on the allegations made by Council against members of the Portfolio Committee;
Portfolio Committee on Communications, Briefing by the South African Post Office on its 2019/20 Annual Report; Briefing by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies on its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa on its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by the Films and Publications Board on 2021/22 its Annual Performance Plan and Budget;
Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Water and Sanitation and Human Settlements, Briefing by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on 2021/2022 Annual Performance Plan and budget allocation of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs;
Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, Briefing on Budget Vote and Annual Performance Plan of the Department of Tourism;
WEDNESDAY, 12 MAY 2021
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Virtual public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development;
Portfolio Committee on Transport, Consideration and adoption of report on the 2021/22 Annual Performance Plans of the Department of Transport and its entities;
Select Committee on Appropriations, Briefing by SALGA and Public hearings on the Division of Revenue Bill [B3-2021];
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Oversight Enquiry into the Appointment of Prof Mbati as the Vice-Chancellor of Sefako Makgatho University;
Select Committee on Security and Justice, Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs on their budget and annual performance plan for 2021/22],
Portfolio Committee on Communications, Briefing by SITA on its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by GCIS on its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan and Budget; Briefing by MDDA on its 2021/22 Annual Performance Plan and Budget;
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Briefing by DCS on progress regarding the release of 19 000 offenders on parole to address COVID-19 and the capacity of Community Corrections to manage the additional numbers into their system; Briefing by DCS on alleged incidents of sexual conduct between inmates and officials and measures in place to address such incidents;
Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises and Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communications, Briefing by the Department of Public Enterprises on the annual performance plan and budget for 2021/22 financial year; Consideration and adoption of draft programme;
Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on its Annual Performance Plan and Strategic Plan.
Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sport, Arts and Culture, Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training on the 2021 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Vote;
THURSDAY, 13 MAY 2021
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Virtual public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development;
Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Briefing by National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) on the 2020 3rd &4th Quarterly Report and the Annual Report; Briefing by the Department of Military Veterans on matters arising from the previous minutes;
FRIDAY, 14 MAY 2021
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, Virtual public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development.
Portfolio Committee on Transport, Deliberations on the Economic Regulation of Transport Bill [B 1-2020];
Standing Committee on Appropriations, Briefing by the Department of Public Enterprises and the South African Airways on the Special Appropriation Bill [B5- 2021];
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, Deliberations on the Traditional Courts Amendment Bill; Consideration and Adoption of committee reports on Budget Votes; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Report on Judges Salaries and Chapter 9 Office Bearers;
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Technology, Oversight Enquiry into the Appointment of Prof Mbati as the Vice-Chancellor of Sefako Makgatho University (Part B: SMU);
Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, Briefing by the Secretary to Parliament on the institution’s performance in the fourth quarter of 2020/21; Update by the Secretary to Parliament and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on the investigation into the cause of the fire in the Old Assembly Building (including an update on attending to the damage caused;
For the latest full schedule of committee meetings (updated regularly) please go to:
https://www.parliament.gov.za/committee-meetings
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