That week in Parliament

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER Although special measures prohibiting the sale of liquor for off-site consumption during the Easter weekend no longer apply, the status of relaxed limitations on gatherings during that period may need to be clarified. This...

  The first term of Parliament officially ended on 19 March and MPs are on recess until 4 May 2021. However, it will still be busy for some MPs as a number of committees will still be meeting during this constituency period. The major highlights for...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER A ministerial directive gazetted on 26 March for schools has clarified the measures applicable under lockdown level one to all: sports activities and tournaments physical education, and extra-curricular activities. On 26...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER A ministerial directive gazetted on 19 March: replaced sub-directions in the July 2020 health directive for handling and disposing of mortal remains, and withdrew a sub-direction allowing people entering South Africa to...

  On one level, this looks like a pretty normal week. There is no main chamber business and there is a decent amount of action in the committee corridor. However, Parliament is officially in recess from today until 4 May 2021 While most MPs will only...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER Cabinet’s decision on 11 March to extend the Covid-19 State of Disaster by another month was confirmed on 12 March by notice in the Government Gazette.   According to the post-Cabinet meeting media statement announcing this,...

The constituency period beckons, with MPs due to sign off at the end of the week and resume on 4 May 2021. Not everyone will be on a break though. A few committees, with urgent business, have arranged meetings during this period. There is no...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER A new temporary employer-employee relief scheme (TERS) directive was gazetted on 3 March. Its contents were later confirmed in a Department of Employment and Labour media statement. The directive: is retrospectively...

  Today, 8 March 2021, marks International Women’s Day – a day to commemorate and celebrate the vital role women play the world over. In the global parliamentary space, only 24% of women occupy parliamentary seats across the world.    The Legislature...

It’s the penultimate week of the first term but there’s plenty to do in the remaining days and the legislature has scheduled a busy programme in the main chambers and committee corridor.   The practice of oral questions is an established part of the...