That week in Parliament

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...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER South Africa’s return to lockdown level one was confirmed on 28 February by notice in the Government Gazette. Amended disaster management regulations were gazetted on 28 February: confirming announcements in President Cyril...

There's a full and mixed flavour to the coming week's parliamentary business. The major points of interest will come from the Question Time session with the Executive, legislative business and mini-plenaries. There are also several high-profile...

Every February the Minister of Finance presents the budget speech in Parliament for the upcoming fiscal year. The 2021 Budget will be presented by Minister Mboweni today, 24 February 2021, at 14:00.   What is in the budget and why should I care? The...

COVID-19 STATE OF DISASTER Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) On 11 February, a Department of Employment and Labour media statement: confirmed that the extension announced in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA)...

According to the Constitution, all Bills passed by Parliament must be submitted to the President for assent (signed into law). Once a Bill is signed by the President, it becomes an Act of Parliament and a law of the land.   Unlike in other...

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's budget speech on Wednesday will dominate headlines this week. The Minister has a tough job to do as he seeks to address significant social challenges, satisfy public pressure and reassure investors and ratings agencies....

Written Questions & Replies have been a long established feature of parliamentary democracies. They form part of a motley of critical oversight mechanisms and play a crucial role in holding the Executive accountable.   Legislators in many countries...