COVID-19: Parliamentary Oversight & Discussions

The Corona virus outbreak is having a significant and unprecedented effect across the global. As a result, countries have resorted to extraordinary measures to combat this grave public health emergency.
As the virus became more prominent, Parliament held debates and meetings to discuss its impact.
National Assembly: Plenary Sitting Debate - 5 March 2020
Portfolio Committee on Health
National Health Insurance (NHI) Pilot Evaluation; Coronavirus response; with Minister - 4 March 2020
Portfolio Committee on Police
Coronavirus; SAPS Quarterly Reports (Q1, 2 and 3) follow-up; IPID Head Appointment Update; with Deputy Minister - 4 March 2020
Portfolio Committee on Tourism
Coronavirus & implications for tourism sector: Chinese Consul-General briefing; National Registrar of Tourist Guides on compliance with legislation & other programmes - 25 February 2020
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education
ICT Roll-Out: Department of Basic Education briefing; Coronavirus measures - 17 March 2020
The country was placed on lockdown, with massive restrictions in place, including the closure of non-essential businesses. According to the President, this action was required “to prevent a human catastrophe of enormous proportions in our country”.
The Regulations gave enormous (and necessary) powers to the Executive. Initially, the Legislature, suspended its business until further notice, issued several statements supporting the Government’s interventions and did not want to interfere while it implements the extraordinary measures. (You can view our summary of the regulations here)
Parliament eventually decided to resume business and scrutinise government emergency powers to deal with coronavirus, as concerns about unchecked executive power grew.
It prioritised a schedule of virtual committee meetings, whose scope of oversight relates to government departments driving COVID-19 response measures. View the schedule for upcoming meetings
We have consolidated all the COVID-19 related meetings and events below
Plenary Sessions/ House Events
Committees
About this blog

"That week in Parliament" is a series of blog posts in which the important Parliamentary events of the week are discussed.
We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.
About this blog

"That week in Parliament" is a series of blog posts in which the important Parliamentary events of the week are discussed.
We host the latest posts of this blog, written by People's Assembly. You can find more on PA's blog.