The President's oral question session - on Thursday - is the high point of the parliamentary week. The President is required to answer up to six questions of national or international importance once per term in accordance with the annual parliamentary programme. Four supplementary questions, arising from the reply to a question, are allowed. This engagement is one of the ways in which Parliament holds the President accountable. 

The questions cover a range of matters, including trade with Angola, promises to build houses in Alexandra, concentration in the agricultural sector, South Africa’s foreign policy, and private sector investments in key state entities.

View the questions here

On Wednesday, select Ministers in the Peace and Security Cluster will be in the spotlight when they answer oral questions. The cluster comprises Ministers responsible for Defence and Military Veterans, International Relations and Cooperation, Justice and Constitutional Development, Police, State Security, Home Affairs and Correctional Services. This is the first time in the Seventh Parliament that Ministers will appear in this capacity. Members of the Cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions. It will be interesting to see how the Government of National Unity navigates this constitutional provision.

View the questions here

Over the years, questions have been raised about the form, frequency and effectiveness of these sessions. Some argue that it is a choreographed and ritualistic exercise that does little to hold the President to account. They point to the number and nature of questions allowed, the vetting process, the scripted response, the long-winded statements camouflaged as questions and the poor responses. Others point out that even though it is not a perfect mechanism for Executive scrutiny, it can help shape the public’s views; it is an opportunity to address specific concerns and an opportunity for legislators to interact directly with the Executive.

Another highlight is the commemoration of Women's Day. During Tuesday's plenary, lawmakers will hold a debate on National Women’s Day, under the theme: “Celebrating 30 years of freedom and women development”. The plenary will also consider the Report on the process for appointing the Pan South African Language Board.

Over in the NCOP, delegates will participate in a three-day Three Sphere Planning Session under the theme: "Towards an Oversight Agenda for the Seventh Parliament: Delineating Key Oversight Priorities for the NCOP in the Seventh Parliament." According to Parliament, “the three-day planning session seeks to, among others, ensure that appropriate mechanisms and systems are put in place to effectively address policy implementation weaknesses and coordination disjuncture across the three spheres of government, particularly as the seventh dispensation commences its work”. The Deputy President will address the session on, amongst others, the implementation of the District Development Model, the underlying state capacity weakness, and the implementation of key development priorities.

There’s lots of action in Committee-land. Here is a rundown of the main highlights:

TUESDAY, 27 AUGUST 2024

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing on the mandate and powers of the SIU, the MOU with SCOPA, the Coordination and Monitoring Mechanism, and specific cases currently handled by the SIU], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Committee support staff on the Legacy report of the 6th Parliament Standing Committee on Finance and briefing by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) on their role and mandate], Venue to be confirmed, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Competition Commission and Competition Tribunal on their annual performance plans and budgets], Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the 2022-23 local government audit outcomes)– (Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs – National Assembly)], Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-17:00

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Briefing/Presentation on Investment in Early Childhood Development (ECD) in respect of Funding Shift, Curriculum, Teacher/Care Giver Development, Resource Allocation and Registration; Consideration and Adoption of Draft Minutes and Draft Reports], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs on the Marriage Bill [B 43 – 2023]; Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs on the Immigration Amendment Bill [B 8 – 2024]; Briefing by the Content Advisor and the Researcher on the submissions received on the Marriage Bill [B 43 – 2024]; Consideration and adoption of the minutes], Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on progress made in the implementation of its performance and turnaround strategy; Briefing by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) on progress made in resolving tariff dispute between the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Sentech; Briefing by DCDT on the SABC Bill and analysis by Content Advisors on the public written responses received on the Bill in the 6^th Parliament; Adoption of minutes], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the 2025/26 Division of Revenue; Consideration and adoption of the Committee`s Programme for Term 2], Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00


WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Office of the Accountant-General and Chief Procurement Officer on their mandate, initiatives to enforce consequences using the PFMA, collaboration with the AGSA, how the OAG can support SCOPA in its oversight role, National Treasury Instruction No. 4 of 2022/2023, understanding departmental annual reports, supply chain management processes, deviations, and expansions], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Constitutional and Legal Services Office (CLSO) on the drafting of the Committee Bill on the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020] and legal implications of the Constitutional Court judgement; Hosting a delegation from Namibian Parliament on a benchmarking study visit to learn and share experiences], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [09:00-11:00: Engagement with the Office of Auditor-General South Africa on the state of Audit Outcomes in the Portfolio of Human Settlements; 11:00-13:00: Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on the Medium-Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2019-2024 Performance], Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, (National Assembly), [Presentation by the Department on the Outcomes of the 44th Ordinary SADC Summit and the Department’s implementation plan therefrom for achieving the regional integration agenda], Venue to be confirmed, 10:00

Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, (National Assembly), [Engagement with the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa on its functions and support to Parliament, as well as an overview of recent audit findings in of the DOD and DMV; Consideration of outstanding minutes], Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and the National Radio-active Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) on their respective Annual Performance Plans and Budgets for 2024/25; Consideration and adoption of outstanding minutes], Venue to be confirmed, 10:00-13:00


FRIDAY, 30 AUGUST 2024

Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, (National Assembly), [Presentation on the Legacy Report of the 6^th Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your thoughts, on-the-ground experience and expert information with the relevant committees. Critically, what questions should MPs pose to the Executive as they conduct their oversight work? Write to a Parliamentary Committee

View the schedule page here.

The schedule is subject to frequent changes and needs to be checked daily.

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