Question time is the main business in both chambers this week. The practice of oral questions is an established part of the parliamentary day and gives MPs an opportunity to question the Executive about matters for which they are responsible.

Everything from specific scandals and programmes to big-picture policy to bread-and-butter issues and performance will be under the microscope. Generally, governing party MPs and the opposition have different objectives when it comes to these engagements: the former tends to provide the Executive with an opportunity to put government policies and actions in a favourable light while the latter aims to do the opposite.

For all its limitations, this is usually an occasion of heightened interest and can sometimes be revealing.

In the National Assembly, Questions to the President and select ministers in the Social Services Cluster will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

In the NCOP, the Deputy President will take centre stage on Thursday, while select Ministers in the Social Services Cluster will be quizzed on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Beyond this, the NA will pay tribute to the late Tina Joemat-Petterson and consider the reports on two Public Finance Management Amendment Bills during Thursday’s sitting.

The NA will convene three virtual mini-plenaries on Friday

Mini-plenary 1:

1. Consideration of Report of PC on Transport on A petition from residents of Ukhahlamba Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, calling on the Assembly to investigate the state of roads in their communities (submitted by Mr R A Lees, MP) (ATC, 7 June 2022, p 4) (49),
2. Consideration of Report of PC on Transport on Public Protector Report No 37 of 2018-19 on a systemic investigation into allegations of illegal conversion of goods-carrying Toyota Quantum panel vans into passenger-carrying mini bus taxis to transport members of public for reward and matters related thereto (ATC, 24 February 2023, p 2) (49),
3. Consideration of Report of Standing Committee on Finance on Oversight visit to Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank) (ATC, 1 June 2022, p 27) (49),
4. Consideration of Report of PC on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development on Oversight visit to Mpumalanga Province from 29 to 31 March 2023 (ATC, 31 May 2023, p 4) (49).

Mini-plenary 2:

1. Consideration of Report of PC on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on Oversight visit to Eastern Cape Province on 3-8 July 2022 (ATC, 5 September 2022, p 34) (49),
2. Consideration of Report of PC on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on Oversight visit to Makana from 16-19 September 2022 (ATC, 11 November 2022, p 47) (49),
3. Consideration of Report of PC on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on Commission for Gender Equality Report on Government’s Emergency Response Action Plan on Gender-based Violence and Femicide (ATC, 6 September 2022, p 30) (49),
4. Consideration of Report of Standing Committee on the Auditor-General on Oversight visit to Auditor-General of South Africa in Pretoria (ATC, 21 September 2022, p 15) (49).

Mini-plenary 3:

1. Consideration of Request for Approval of Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education (Report of PC on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, see ATC, 13 April 2023, p 22) (49),
2. Consideration of Report of PC on Water and Sanitation on Follow-up visit to Limpopo Province to assess progress on the Giyani bulk water project from 18 – 19 April 2023 (ATC, 7 June 2023, p 113) (49),
3. Consideration of Report of PC on Basic Education on Oversight visit to Mpumalanga Provincial Education Department (ATC, 27 September 2022, p 8) (49),
4. Consideration of Report of PC on Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 2021/22 Annual Reports of National Skills Fund, Services Sector Education and Training Authority, Insurance Seta and Construction Education and Training Authority (ATC, 24 April 2023, p 36) (49).

There are many noteworthy meetings scheduled in the committee corridor. Here is a summary of the highlights:

TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 2023

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on its submission on the 2024/25 Division of Revenue], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by National Treasury on the Public Procurement Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on the performance and expenditure for the first quarter of the 2023-2024 financial year; Briefing by the Border Management Authority (BMA) on the performance and expenditure for the first quarter of the 2023-2024 financial year; Consideration of the letter from the Chief Justice on the filling of the vacancy of an IEC Commissioner at the Electoral Commission (IEC); Draft notice and schedule determining the rate, with effect from 1 April 2022, at which salaries and allowances are payable to full-time and part-time members of the Electoral Commission annually; Consideration and adoption of the outstanding minutes], Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Clause-by-clause on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B13 – 2021]], Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Update on the investigations conducted by the SIU on Transnet; Meeting on the annual report and financial statements of the Transnet, for the financial year 2021/22, as well as the irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Climate Change Bill (A- list)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, (National Assembly), [Follow-up meeting with the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on responses to written and oral submissions received on the National Council on Gender Based Violence and Femicide Bill (B31-2022); Consideration and adoption of minutes], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:45

Select Committee on Security and Justice, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing on the Judges and Magistrates Draft Notice determining the rate at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to Constitutional Court judges, judges and magistrates annually; Briefing by the Minister on the outstanding questions raised by members on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill [B9B-2018] (National Assembly – sec 75); Summary of the written submissions received on the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill [B9B-2018] (National Assembly – sec 75)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00-16:00

Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by National Treasury on the Municipal Fiscal Powers and Functions Amendment Bill [B-21B—2022] (Sec-75)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:30-17:00

Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Final Mandates on the Performers Protection Amendment Bill [B 24D-2016], and Copyright Amendment Bill [B 13D-2017]], Committee Room 1, 120 Plein Street Building, 14:30-18:00

WEDNESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2023

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Discussion on the South African Reserve Bank Amendment Bill and way forward], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [SAPS Implementation Plans; Marikana Report, Farlam Panel of Experts, July 2021 Unrest Report; Deliberations on the Committee`s Inquiry into July 2021 unrest], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on update in relation to: disbursement of funding and allowances to students, roll-out of the new direct-payment system, resolving outstanding student’s appeals, leave of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), query system, student accommodation accreditation system; response to student’s memorandum and funding applications for 2024 academic year; Consideration of minutes], Committee Room, S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Social Development (DSD), South African Social Security (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA) on their action plans responding to the Auditor General audit findings and recommendations for 2021/22 financial year; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on the: National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill [B25 – 2023]; Electricity Regulations Amendment Bill [B23 – 2023]], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by National Treasury on Instruction Note 4 2022/2023 regarding the exemption of State-Owned Entities from reporting irregular expenditure], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Clause-by-clause on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B13 – 2021]], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 14:00-16:00

Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Climate Change Bill (A- list)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Transnet on the business operations, rail concessions, maintenance and infrastructure development updates], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by PBO on underspending by the Department of Social Development between the 2011/12 and 2020/21 financial years; Consideration of draft Minutes of previous meeting], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

THURSDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2023

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of the JSCD third term programme; Briefing by the DCAC on the NCACC First and Second Quarter Report for 2023 and update on progress made on the concerns raised by the Defence Industry to the JSCD during its engagement on 3 November 2022; Consideration of Employment Letter; Consideration of the Study Tour Report; Consideration of outstanding minutes; Consideration of outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00


FRIDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2023

Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communication, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on the entity’s turn-around plan and in making the national broadcaster a sustainable and profitable business entity; Consideration and Adoption of Minutes], 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 to 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.

*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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