That week in Parliament

It is largely a low-key week with NA MPs on leave, a public holiday and only a handful of meetings scheduled. The main point of interest is the President’s joint address on Tuesday. Convening an address to both Houses is a rare occurrence and is...

COVID-19 The deadline for public comment on proposed amendments to the 2017 regulations on the surveillance and control of notifiable medical conditions has been extended. This is noting that, once in force, the amended regulations will provide (among...

Parliament resumes this week after a 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 NA programme will run for 9...

COVID-19 The details underpinning President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 4 April announcement have since been gazetted in: a notice terminating the State of Disaster a separate notice revoking the classification of the Covid-19 pandemic as a national disaster...

  The first term of Parliament officially ended on 01 April and MPs are on recess until 19 April 2022. The year started with a devastating fire that gutted large parts of the National Assembly. This had a ripple effect as it stalled Parliament’s plan...

COVID-19 The Department of Transport has issued a ministerial directive confirming a further extension to the validity period of learners’ licences, driving licence cards, licence discs, professional driving permits and motor vehicle registration...

  We all know Parliament as the “law-making” body. The legislature is constitutionally empowered to make new laws, amend existing laws and repeal old laws. Those in the know are aware of the trajectory the law-making process undergoes – from...

COVID-19 Gazetted on 22 March and immediately in force, among other things amendments to the disaster management regulations for adjusted lockdown level one: waive the mandatory wearing of face masks in open public spaces on the understanding that a...

  The Committee on Section 194 Inquiry resumed its work last month, on 22 February 2022, after a six-month hiatus due to court processes. The Committee agreed to utilise the services of two external Evidence Leaders to assist it. The role of the...

The constituency period beckons, with MPs due to sign off at the end of the week and resume on 19 April 2022. There is no opportunity to go through the motions as a fair amount of heavy-duty business will be done before they go. The main point of...