Parliament, Monday, 06 September 2021 - This afternoon, the National Assembly Programme Committee Meeting has agreed to review and adjust its programme to accommodate the Constitutional Court ruling on local government elections. The NA will now adjourn for the constituency period from 13 September to 01 November 2021.
Last week, the constitutional court ordered local government elections to be held between Wednesday, 27 October and Monday, 1 November 2021. The ruling necessitated a change in the National Assembly programme for the remainder of the year.
This week, the National Assembly’s programme will consider various items categorised into three: legislation, statutory appointments, and committee reports. The House will prioritise issues already programmed for consideration. On Thursday and Friday, legislation and other statutory appointments still to be finalised during the week will be considered. Few committees will be granted permission to meet during plenary sessions. The Portfolio Committee on Health is dealing with the National Health Insurance Bill, the Ad Hoc Committee to Initiate and Introduce Legislation Amending Section 25 will finalise its report and the Standing Committee on Appropriations to focus on the Special Appropriations Bill.
During this constituency period, no approvals of oversight and ordinary meetings shall be granted. Only committees with the constitutional deadlines will be granted permission to meet.
The NA will process the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports (BRRRs) in November. The Money Bills and Related Matters Act states that Parliament and its committees must assess each department’s performance annually. The Act requires that these assessments, among other things, refer to departmental annual reports and financial statements. Under ordinary circumstances, these assessments are conducted in early October. However, the Auditor-General of South Africa (AG), Ms Tsakani Maluleke, had in July informed Parliament about a delay in completing the 2020-21 audit cycle of auditees that fall under the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The Speaker will write to the Leader of Government Business (LOGB) indicating the deadlines within which the delayed annual reports must be tabled before the House.
Questions for oral reply to the Deputy President will be considered in November.
ISSUED BY PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
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