That week in Parliament

In the second week of July 2021, the country experienced unprecedented levels of unrest and destruction of public and private property. These acts of violence started in KwaZulu–Natal and spread to parts of Gauteng. More than 300 people died. The...

An eclectic week of parliamentary action beckons in the main chambers and Committee Corridor. A combination of Question Time session, a sectoral parliament, a debate, legislative business and several high-profile Committee meetings, should mean plenty...

The month of August marks Women's month in South Africa. We must reflect on the progress that South Africa has made in terms of women’s representation and participation in Parliament.   Women’s Representation in Parliament within the current electoral...

COVID-19 A directive has been gazetted on measures specific to the social development sector. Apparently published after Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu provided more details on the reintroduced social relief of distress grant, the backdated...

Parliament resumes this week for the third term after a lengthy winter constituency period. The virtual/hybrid Parliament will continue for another term, with some MPs working from the precinct and others remotely. According to the latest timetable,...

The National Assembly Programme Committee (NAPC), at its sitting yesterday morning, provisionally scheduled Thursday, 19 August for election of a new Speaker. The provisional date is subject to confirmation by the Office of the Chief Justice. The...

Following the August 5 cabinet reshuffle by President Ramaphosa, which saw National Assembly (NA) Speaker Thandi Modise being appointed Defence Minister, the House is set to elect a new Speaker today.   On August 10, the ANC caucus in Parliament...

COVID-19   The details of criteria to be met when applying each month until the end of March 2022 for a R350 social relief of distress grant were announced on 4 August. Prospective beneficiaries should be: South African citizens or permanent...

UNREST An announcement on 28 July from Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi refers to: a ‘special directive’ being drafted to: provide benefits under the 2001 Unemployment Insurance Act for people: who lost their jobs, or whose working hours...

UNREST According to Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola, ‘in collaboration with the South African Police Service emerging cases will be divided into four categories’: ‘actual looters and persons participating in stealing from...