Now that the National Assembly returns from its constituency break (the NCOP resumed at the start of the month), it feels like the real start of the new term.

The third term will conclude on 22 September 2023 and will be packed with activities.

Some of the highlights include Committee and oversight work; oral questions to the Executive; NCOP Provincial Week; inquiries; important debates and the filling of vacancies in several government bodies.

In addition, MPs are expected to do some heavy legislative lifting as there are more than 50 bills before the legislature. The bills cover an array of issues, including universal healthcare, regulation of smoking, public procurement, electricity regulation, climate change, basic education, copyright, land expropriation, tax matters, and more.

That said, the timetable is fluid and can be overtaken by unscheduled debates, statements, and events.

The Virtual and hybrid Parliament will continue for another term. It is limiting and imperfect. At the same time, the body is able to perform its legislative and oversight role.

We are in election season. With this in mind, we can expect MPs to use every possible parliamentary occasion - question time, committee meetings, Members’ statements, debates, whatever – to target hot-button electoral issues and try to score points over their opponents.

Turning to this week, there are no plenary sittings scheduled in the main chambers.

The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will hold a two-day symposium from 29-30 August 2023 at the Tshedimosetso House in Hatfield, Pretoria. The symposium will discuss the impact of digital media misinformation, disinformation, and content moderation ahead of the upcoming general elections in 2024.

In the Committee Corridor, legislation will be a key focus. Here is a summary of the highlights:

 

TUESDAY, 29 AUGUST 2023

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing on Magistrates and Judges Salaries; Briefing on South African Human Rights Commission and Public Protector South Africa salaries; Briefing on the Divorce Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by National Treasury and SARS on the 2023 Draft Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, 2023 Draft Revenue Administration and Pension Laws Amendment Bill, 2023 Draft Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill (2023 Draft Rates Bill), 2023 Draft Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (2023 Drat TLAB) and 2023 Draft Tax Administration Laws Bill (2023 Draft TALAB)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing on the Companies Amendment Bills], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Railway Safety Bill [B 7-2021]; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings; Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Treasury on the First Quarter Expenditure Report for the 2023/24 financial year – focusing on National departments and SOEs/Companies; Adoption of the Committee’s 2023 Revised Strategic Plan and APP], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs on the implementation of the recommendations of the Lubisi Report and update on Committee oversight in March 2023; Briefing by the Government Printing Works (GPW) on the implementation of the recommendation of the Ministerial Task Team; Consideration of the letter from the Chief Justice on the filling of the vacancy of an IEC Commissioner at the Electoral Commission (IEC); Update by the Minister of Home Affairs on the progress made to introduce the consequential amendments to the Electoral Amendment Bill; Consideration and adoption of the outstanding minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Follow-up meeting with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) on the progress made regarding the implementation plans by, the City of Cape Town, Department of Human Settlements, National Development Agency, and DPWI on the relocation of illegal dwellers on the railway reserve between Philippi and Langa], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B13 – 2021]], Committee Room M46, Ground floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-16:00

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Consideration of Amendments to the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2 – 2022]; Consideration and adoption of draft minutes (8, 15, 16, 17 August 2023)], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on Climate Change (A- list)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-15:00

WEDNESDAY, 30 AUGUST 2023

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Public hearings on the Correctional Services Amendment Bill; Adoption of  draft Report  on  Salaries of Magistrates  and  Judges; Adoption of draft Report on Salaries of South African Human Rights Commission and Public Protector South Africa; Responses by DCS to submissions on the Correctional Services Amendment Bill; Deliberations on the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Prudential Authority (PA) on their annual reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Introduction of the Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill [B21-2023] by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS); Briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Advisor and the State Law Advisor on their opinion regarding the Independent Police Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill [B21-2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B13 – 2021]], Committee Room M46, Ground floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-16:00

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of South Africa (UNISA) and University of Fort Hare (UFH) on governance, administration and related matters], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-18:00

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

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Road Accident Fund Annual Report meeting on the audit outcomes and the Committee oversight visit findings], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-14:00

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Public Enterprises on the first quarter performance report for the 2023/24 financial year, and progress regarding the unbundling of Eskom; Presentation by Content Advisor on the Zondo Commission recommendations implementation plan; Consideration and adoption of third term programme], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

THURSDAY, 31 AUGUST 2023

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Response of the Minister of Public Enterprises to the allegations submitted by the suspended Director-General of Public Enterprises], Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, 10:00

FRIDAY, 1 SEPTEMBER 2023

Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture on the suspension of eight national federations by the SASCOC due to non-compliance, how did the suspensions come about and what is the Department doing to assist the federations to ensure compliance and lifting of the suspensions], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 

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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