Parliament, Sunday, 3 May 2026 – This week in Parliament will feature a Freedom Day debate, plenary sittings to consider key legislation and petitions, an oral question-and-answer session with Ministers in the Economics Cluster and several committee meetings.
On Tuesday at 14:00, the National Assembly (NA) will hold a debate marking Freedom Day under the theme: “Social and Economic Fruits of Freedom: Celebrating thirty-two years of Democratic Citizenship.” The debate reflects on the historic significance of 27 April 1994, when millions of South Africans voted in the country’s first democratic elections, ushering in a new era and bringing an end to apartheid.
At the same sitting, the NA will consider the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, a section 76 Bill aimed at strengthening the legislative framework governing the Municipal Demarcation Authority, to strengthen its independence, improve governance processes and promote transparency and public participation in municipal boundary determinations.
The National Assembly will further consider the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on the petition from the Amadiba community regarding the N2 Wild Coast Toll Highway Project. The petition calls for a review of the approved coastal route between the Mtentu and Mtamvuna bridges, as well as a mid-term evaluation of the project. Petitioners raised concerns regarding the potential social, environmental and economic impacts of the current alignment and proposed an alternative inland route.
In addition, the NA will consider the Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on a petition submitted by MJ Cuthbert on behalf of residents of Daveyton. The petition calls for an investigation into vandalism and the restoration of the railway network connecting Daveyton to Springs, Benoni and Johannesburg. It further urges Parliament to consider funding for the rehabilitation of the railway line and station, together with long-term security and maintenance measures to prevent further infrastructure damage.
On Wednesday at 14:00, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will debate the Provincial Week Report under the theme: “Building viable municipalities for enhanced delivery of basic services to communities.” The report follows oversight visits conducted by Permanent Delegates to the NCOP across provinces from 18 to 21 November 2025 to assess service delivery, with particular focus on incomplete, delayed and abandoned infrastructure projects. The Provincial Week programme remains a key mechanism through which the NCOP strengthens oversight, deepens accountability and engages communities directly on service delivery challenges. The Council will also consider various committee reports and legislation during the sitting.
Also, on Wednesday at 14:00, the Economics Cluster 5 Ministers will appear before the National Assembly to respond to questions from Members of Parliament. The cluster includes Ministers responsible for Land Reform and Rural Development, Public Works and Infrastructure, Small Business Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Competition, Transport and Science, Technology and Innovation. The question paper for the Economics Cluster is available here.
On Thursday, the NA will convene two concurrent mini-plenary sittings for the first reading debates on four bills, namely the Constitution Twenty-Third Amendment Bill, the Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, the Public Procurement Second Amendment Bill and the Public Procurement Amendment Bill. The mini plenaries will start at 14:00.
Both Houses are also scheduled to hold their respective Programme Committee meetings on Thursday at 08:30 to plan the business of Parliament.
The week will conclude on Friday with a National Assembly mini-plenary session dedicated to the consideration of motions.
There are 32 committee meetings scheduled for the week, taking place as follows:
TUESDAY, 5 MAY 2026
Portfolio Committee on Transport: Consideration and adoption of the committee report on the Strategic Plan, 2026/27 APP and 2026/27 Budget of the Department of Transport, and finalisation of observations and recommendations. Response from the Department of Transport on a petition from Ms N Nolutshungu, on behalf of the Western Cape Network on Disability, calling for the amendment and enforcement of the National Land Transport Act, 2009 (Act No. 5 of 2009) to guarantee equitable, reliable and accessible public transport services for persons with disabilities. (Ms N Nolutshungu, MP) – ATC 18 February 2026. Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings. Virtual meeting platform, 09:30 – 12:30
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Briefing by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Information Regulator on annual performance plans and budget. Virtual meeting platform, 09:30 – 17:00
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Electricity and Energy on their APP and Budget Vote. Consideration and adoption of committee minutes. Virtual meeting platform, 10:00 – 13:00
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Briefing on the 2026/27 Annual Performance Plans (APPs) and Budget allocation: National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC) and Perishable Products Export Control Board (PPECB). S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, 09:30 – 13:00
Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation: Budget Review 2026: Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plans by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC). Committee Room 3042, Third Floor, 90 Plein Street, 10:00 – 13:00
WEDNESDAY, 6 MAY 2026
Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation: Briefing by the department and the African Renaissance Fund on their APPs for the 2026/17 Financial Year. Virtual meeting platform, 09:00
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Briefing by Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Legal Aid SA on Annual Performance Plans and Budget. Virtual meeting platform, 09:00 – 12:30
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Consideration and adoption of the 2026/7 Budget Vote Report. Responses by the DPWI on matters raised by the NEHAWU DPWI branch in 2025. Consideration and adoption of previous minutes. M515, Marks Building, 09:00 – 14:00
Portfolio Committee on Health: Consideration and adoption of the Committee’s Budget Vote Report and Minutes. Virtual meeting platform, 09:30 – 12:00
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Engagement on the state of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality. Committee Room 3042, Third Floor, 90 Plein Street, 09:00 – 16:00
THURSDAY, 7 MAY 2026
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Agriculture on their APP and Budget Vote 29. Virtual meeting platform, 14:00 – 17:00
FRIDAY, 8 MAY 2026
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Presentation by the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) on the automated tracking tool. Presentation by content advisors on Parliament TV in collaboration with SABC and Sentech to bring Parliament closer to the people. Consideration and adoption of the Report on the Roundtable on Podcasters. Virtual meeting platform, 14:00 – 17:00
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament: Briefings on Parliament’s performance in the third to fourth quarters of 2025/26, including the 2025/26 mid-year performance on the institution’s performance in the second and third quarters of 2025/26, including the 2025/26 mid-year performance reports. Consideration and adoption of committee minutes, draft committee report on the 2024/25 annual report of the Parliament of the RSA, draft committee report on site visits undertaken to inspect the installation of the Nieuwmeester Dome and progress in the rebuilding of the infrastructure destroyed in the 2022 fire on the parliamentary precinct and 2026 second term committee programme. Virtual meeting platform, 08:00 – 10:00
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Consideration and adoption of the Budget Vote Report. Virtual meeting platform, 14:00 – 17:00
Joint Standing Committee on Defence: Preparatory presentation by the committee researcher and update by the content advisor on committee resolutions. Briefings by the National Security Secretariat and DOD on the National Security Strategy and implications for defence policy. Consideration of outstanding minutes. Virtual meeting platform, 08:30 – 12:00
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education: Follow-up engagement with the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) on matters raised during the previous oversight visit to the university, Committee room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, 09h00 – 13h00
For the full schedule of Committee meetings (updated regularly), please visit click here
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo
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