Blog

  2024 was a landmark political year that will be remembered for a general election that produced a hung Parliament and the consequent emergence of the first coalition government in democratic South Africa. Conflicts between ideological differences,...

  After nearly six months, the 7th Parliament will rise this week for the December recess. In customary fashion, the National Council of Provinces ends a week later than the National Assembly. The upper chamber will conclude its business on Wednesday,...

  NATIONAL FORESTS AMENDMENT ACT The National Forests Amendment Act, 2022, came into force by presidential proclamation in the Government Gazette – among other things strengthening measures already in place to: promote and enforce sustainable forest...

  BASIC EDUCATION LAWS AMENDMENT ACT The Presidency issued two media statements on the process of finding a way forward with contentious provisions in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act. Both statements were prompted by media reports on the...

  The constituency and leave period beckons for NA MPs, with Thursday scheduled as the last plenary sitting day.  NCOP delegates will conclude their business a week later on 11 December. The practice of Oral Questions and Replies is an established...

FOOD POISONING CRISIS The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development issued a media statement outlining progress made in implementing interventions recently announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa with the aim of curbing food poisoning. This...

An eclectic week of parliamentary action beckons in the main chambers and Committee Corridor. A combination of a Presidential Address, Question Time, Executive Statements, debates, mini-plenaries, budget-related work, legislative business, and a few...

In terms of the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Financial Interests (the Code), MPs must disclose their financial interests annually. The following kinds of financial interests are registrable interests and must be disclosed in the public...

  Both Houses of Parliament hold debates in which Members discuss government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day.   Parliamentary debates are a key mechanism for holding the Government accountable. They also raise awareness of an...

  ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE A national policy framework for artificial intelligence (AI) is apparently still open for public comment. This is noting that: it appears to have been published as far back as 14 August 2024 but was neither gazetted nor...