The Week Ahead: NCOP Debates and Legislation

18 November 2024

The Week Ahead: NCOP Debates and Legislation

Both Houses of Parliament hold debates in which Members discuss government policy, proposed new laws and topical issues of the day.

Parliamentary debates are a key mechanism for holding the Government accountable. They also raise awareness of an issue at the highest level.

Debates are the main business of the chamber in the NCOP this week. Delegates will debate three matters:

“Accelerating Land Redistribution and Agricultural Development for Inclusive Growth.” (Tuesday).
“Decline of the rural economy, caused, amongst others, by a lack of rural safety and poor service delivery.” (Wednesday)
“The significant increase in electricity costs due to NERSA’s decision to retrospectively approve Eskom’s application to raise charges. The discussion will also focus on measures to protect the most vulnerable individuals from the rising cost of living.” (Thursday)

Each session will also consider motions, legislation, and reports.

Friday’s sitting is dedicated to Question Time with select Ministers in the Social Services cluster. View the Questions here

Elsewhere, there are no sittings scheduled in the National Assembly.

According to the programme, this is committee week. In a statement, Parliament explains that: “The National Assembly has during this 7^th Parliament strategically reorganised its programme into dedicated weekly rotations for committee oversight, constituency engagement, and plenary sittings, marking a significant step in enhancing its constitutional mandate and serving the public interest. This structured approach allows Members of Parliament to concentrate fully on each core function without the scheduling conflicts that previously diluted their effectiveness. During oversight weeks, committees can conduct in-depth investigations and hold the executive accountable, while constituency weeks enable meaningful and direct engagement with communities. Plenary weeks, informed by oversight findings and constituency concerns, focus on effective law-making. This systematic rotation not only improves the quality of parliamentary work but also strengthens democracy through enhanced accountability, more effective public engagement, and responsive legislation. The streamlined approach also aims to accelerate service delivery by ensuring that parliamentary oversight leads to tangible improvements in public services and governance”.

There are many interesting meetings scheduled in Committee-land:

TUESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2024

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Committee Programme, report and minutes; Briefing by Dr Tembe (OISD) legal opinion and selection criteria; Briefing by the Content Advisor on the recruitment process of the NYDA Board and overview of applications received], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-10:30

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the Committee reports and clause-by-clause deliberations on the following bills: 2024 Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (2024 draft TLAB); 2024 Revenue Laws Amendment Bill (2024 draft RLAB); 2024 Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (2024 draft TALAB); 2024 Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill (2024 Rates Bill); 2024 Global Minimum Tax Bill; and 2024 Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by AGSA on the audit outcomes and financial statements for 2023/24 for the following departmental entities: the Department of Defence, the Department of Military Veterans, and Denel], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Services on the Economic Regulation of Transport Amendment Bill, 2024 and consideration and adoption of interim report on the Bill; Consideration and adoption of report on the Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill [B 8D – 2020]; Consideration of written submissions on the Merchant Shipping Bill [B 12 – 2023]; Consideration and adoption of draft Transnet oversight programme; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament: 09:30

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Consideration and Adoption of Draft Minutes and Draft Reports; Briefing by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on a Progress Update on School Infrastructure (including Learner Safety) in respect of: Audit of completed/partial completed build programme; Water and Sanitation; Eradication of Pit-Latrines; Update from Task Team on Implementation of History as a Compulsory Subject], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Transport and SANRAL on the 2024 Special Appropriation Bill], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-12:45

Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department and related entities on the progress on the analogue-switch off before the final date of 31 December 2024; Briefing on the Department on the responses received on the SABC Bill; Briefing by Department on update on the SABC DTT and DTH strategy emanating from the SABC decoder tender to move into Satellite; Adoption of minutes], FFC Building, 33 Heerengracht, 11th Floor, Cape Town, 10:00-18:00

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by South African Local Government Association and Financial and Fiscal Commission on 2024 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill], FFC, 10:00-13:00

WEDNESDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2024

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the SAPS on Capacitation of Specialized Units; Briefing by the SAPS on progress made regarding Capital Works Project (construction and maintenance of police stations) including updates on the investigation into the Telkom Towers Complex, Security upgrading at the police stations in terms of the Infrastructure Safety Plan, including technology requirements such as CCTV and access control amongst others], Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:00-15:00

Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Ministry of Electricity and Energy on the Just Energy Transition Plan and the implementation plan; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) on corruption cases referred by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) concerning departments, entities, and municipalities], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Tabling and presentation of the 2023-24 Public Finance Management Act national and provincial audit outcomes by Auditor-General of South Africa], Virtual Meeting Platform, 15:00-18:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [09:00-11:30: Briefing by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) on its research studies and findings on the scope of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, evaluation of prevention interventions for both women and men; 11:30-14:30: Briefing by the Department of Social Development on progress made in implementing the National Strategy on the Gender Based Violence and Femicide. The presentation should also include programmes aimed at addressing teenage pregnancy; 14:30-15:00: Consideration and adoption of draft minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-15:00

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [09:00-11:00: Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on the Strategy to deal with Illegal Occupation of Houses, Illegal Occupation of Land as well as Illegal Sales of State Subsidised Houses; 11:00-12:45: Briefing by Western Cape Department of Infrastructure - Human Settlements Branch and Stellenbosch Local Municipality on the plans to upgrade Informal Settlements in the Stellenbosch area; 12:45-13:00: Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Select Committee on Social Services, (National Council of Provinces), [Final Mandates on the Older Persons Amendment Bill [B11B-2022] Section 76 and Consideration and Adoption of the Committee Report on the bill; Briefing by the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on the Annual Report 2023/24; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

THURSDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2024

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [Follow up meeting with the Ga-Rankuwa/Mabopane Petitioners], 240 Justice Mohammed, Govan Mbeki Building, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Subcommittee on Appointment of ICASA Councillors, (National Assembly), [Interviews of candidates shortlisted to be interviewed for vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council], ICASA Head Office, 350 Witch-Hazel Ave, Eco-Park Estate, Centurion, 09:00-17:30

FRIDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2024

Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the South African Rugby Union on the details of the equity sale], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Minister of Human Settlements on the White Paper on Human Settlements; Briefing by nine Members of Executive Council and Provincial Departments of Human Settlements on strategies and plans to unblock blocked projects; removal of asbestos roofs; eradication of mud houses and management of the Beneficiary List: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, Free State, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Northern Cape, Western Cape; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Premier Hotel, O.R Tambo, 73 Gladiator Street, Rhodesfield Kempton Park, 09:00-17:00

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the NYDA on handover matters by the Board, filling of vacancies (CEO and CFO) and progress update on redress of qualified audit findings for 2023/24], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

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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