There is a bit of frenzy in Parliament as legislation and important business that can be completed are rushed to the finishing line while other less urgent parliamentary business is dropped for lack of time.

There is a minor parliamentary rarity on Tuesday: the main chamber in the National Assembly has scheduled an all-day sitting. The main business is the annual debate to commemorate 16 Days of Activism for no violence against women and children under the theme: “The Role of Men in Combating Gender-based Violence and Femicide.” In addition, lawmakers will consider assorted committee reports, a legislative matter, and hold a debate on the 9th BRICS Parliamentary Forum.

The practice of Oral Questions and Replies is an established part of the parliamentary day where Cabinet Members account to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and performance of their functions. Select Ministers in the Economic Cluster will answer oral questions on Wednesday. Everything from specific policy to controversies, to bread-and-butter issues and performance will be in the spotlight.

Legislation is the main focus during Thursday’s sitting. MPs are set to consider the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, South African Post Office SOC Ltd Amendment Bill, Companies Amendment Bill, and Companies Second Amendment Bill.

The week rounds off with a debate – on Friday - to commemorate World AIDS Day under the theme: Community response to overcome the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS interventions.

Over in the NCOP, delegates will consider 6 bills on Wednesday: Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, National Road Traffic Amendment Bill, National Land Transport Amendment Bill, Economic Regulation of Transport Bill, Correctional Services Amendment Bill, and Judicial Matters Amendment Bill.

The debate on Water Quality in South Africa and the consideration of assorted committee reports top the agenda during Thursday’s plenary.

Away from Parliament, the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has arranged public hearings in the Eastern Cape.

The National Assembly Speaker has been doing a fair amount of traveling recently. This week, she will lead a multi-party delegation to the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), taking place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from 30 November until 12 December 2023.

Parliaments and parliamentarians can elevate the importance of climate change through debates, developing and strengthening laws, allocating budgets and resources to specific programmes, and holding the government accountable for its actions and performance in relation to domestic programmes, laws, and international commitments.

There are a number of interesting meetings scheduled in the Committee corridor that are guaranteed to generate headlines. Here is a rundown of the highlights:

 

MONDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2023

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of Negotiating Mandates on 2023 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30

Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Report of the Ad Hoc Joint Committee on Flood Disaster Relief and Recovery], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-20:00


TUESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 2023

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Committee report and clause by clause deliberations on the Public Procurement Bill [B18 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on input of written and oral submissions on the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill [B24-2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Health on the 2023 Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B34-2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00-17:00

Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on the progress towards addressing acid mine drainage in Gauteng, with additional focus on the impact that illegal gold mining and processing on water resources; Consideration and Adoption of Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Follow-up Briefing by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00-17:00

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of Final Mandates and Report on 2023 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 16:00-18:00


WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2023

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Committee report and clause by clause deliberations on the Public Procurement Bill [B18 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Basic Education and 4 provincial departments on the 2023 Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B34-2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the minutes of the previous meetings held on 17 and 22 November 2023; Adoption of Committee report on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill [B21–2023]; Consideration of the First Draft Committee’s Legacy Report and Committee’s Annual Report; Further deliberations on the Second quarter crime statistics of 2023/24 financial year (July to September 2023); Consideration of the SAPS Addendum to the Annual Performance Plan of 2023/24], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-14:00

Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Auditor-General on 2022 – 23 PFMA General Report], Hybrid Meeting (Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament & Virtual Meeting Platform), 09:00-14:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing update by Road Accident Fund Annual Report on the audit outcomes and the Committee findings; Briefing by SIU regarding RAF investigation], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of B10A and B13A list of the bills; Consideration and adoption of the B10B and B13B Bills as amended; Committee report on the Bills (for Public Administration Management Amendment Bill [B10 -2023] and Public Service Amendment Bill [B13 -2023])], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00


Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Public hearings on the 2023 Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, 2023 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB) and 2023 Tax Administration Laws Bill (TALAB)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00


THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2023

Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Update on the restoration of the buildings affected by the January 2022 fire on the precinct: briefings by the Secretary to Parliament and/or the Development Bank of Southern Africa; Consideration and adoption of committee minutes and reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 17:00-19:00


FRIDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2023

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Appropriations and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Public Hearings on 2023 MTBPS, 2023 Adjustments Appropriation Bill and 2023 Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Select Committee on Health and Social Services, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on the National Council on Gender-based Violence and Femicide Bill [B31B-2022] Se 75; Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples rights on the rights of older persons in Africa; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Responses by National Treasury on submissions received during public hearings on the 2023 Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, 2023 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB) and 2023 Tax Administration Laws Bill (TALAB)], Virtual Meeting Platform, After Select  Committee on Appropriations meeting

 

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View the schedule page here.

*This summary is based on the schedule as it is published on Monday morning. The programme is subject to frequent updating so the link above needs to be checked daily to confirm the programme for the day.

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