The NCOP has scheduled three debates this week.

Sponsoring debates allow MPs to raise awareness about important issues, sparking national discussions and educating the public. Another aim is to shape policy discussions and influence decision-making.

On Tuesday, delegates will debate 31 Years of Democracy under the theme, “Commemorating 31 Years of Collective Efforts to Build a New Society Rooted in the Ideals of the Freedom Charter.”

On the following day, the focus will be on housing inadequacy in South Africa and the prevalence of informal settlements.
 

On Thursday, the discussion is about addressing poverty and hunger under the theme “Expanding the Effectiveness of the Measures Geared towards Tackling the Enduring Legacy of Poverty and Hunger.”
 

The sittings will also consider motions and assorted committee reports.

Elsewhere, the National Assembly will begin a two-week constituency period and no sittings or meetings are scheduled.

Constituency work is supposed to ensure that elected representatives are visible, responsive, and accountable to citizens on the ground outside of election campaign periods. Through regular outreach and engagement with citizens, elected officials can build trust in the legislature. Ideally, MPs are expected to conduct work in their constituencies and forward inputs to the committee system, thereby linking matters to committee oversight processes. Such matters could then be included in, or form part of, recommendations submitted for adoption by the relevant House during plenary sessions.

In practice, constituency engagement is unstructured, uneven, underutilised, and not deeply embedded in the public’s mind.

View our research on this topic: A PMG Review of Constituency Work in South Africa

Away from Parliament, the NA Speaker and a multi-part delegation are participating in the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025.

There are several interesting meetings scheduled in the Committee corridor.

TUESDAY, 08 APRIL 2025

Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration and adoption of the progress report on the executive undertakings made by the Minister of Water and Sanitation: During the Sitting of 16 July 2024, Consideration of outstanding minutes.], Venue: TBC, 10:00-12:00

Select Committee on Finance (National Council of Provinces), Briefing by Auditor General and National Treasury on the performance of provincial Treasuries and their entities.], Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street, 10:00-13:00

WEDNESDAY, 09 APRIL 2025

Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade (National Council of Provinces) [Briefing by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) on challenges (harmful content) brought by social media and other online platforms and measures to counter them.], S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, 10:00 – 13:00.

Select Committee on Public Infrastructure & Minister in the Presidency, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of Negotiating Mandates on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Bill) [B10 - 2022] (Sec 76) (“the Bill”). Department of Transport Response to the Negotiating Mandates on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Bill) [B10 - 2022] (Sec 76) (“the Bill”).], M514 Marks Building, 10:00 – 13:00

Select Committee on Appropriations (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill, 2025 Appropriation Bill and 2025 Eskom Bill.], M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Security and Justice (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on maintenance of government infrastructure and plans to improve services to the JCPS cluster.], Venue: TBC, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Social Services, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Health on the Strategic Plan, 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Vote, Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes.], Venue: Committee Room 1, 90 Plein, Ground Floor 10:00 – 12:30

During the constituency period, MPs have a duty to: be available to the public, help solve problems and report back to their constituents on what is happening in Parliament.

NA CONSTITUENCY PERIOD: 7 – 17 APRIL

NCOP CONSTITUENCY PERIOD: 22 APRIL – 5 MAY

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.

People's Assembly aims to connect the public to their elected representatives. One way of doing so is through our Replocator tool , which allows you to search for the elected representative in your area.