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Members of Parliament (MPs) return to a busy programme this week after a month-long constituency programme and the recent local government elections.
 
The Minister of Finance, Mr Enoch Godongwana, is scheduled to table the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in the National Assembly (NA) on Thursday, 11 November at 14:00.
 
Minister Godongwana will deliver his inaugural MTBPS during a hybrid sitting of the NA. The MTBPS plays a critical role in the overall budget process, as it sets out the policy framework for the budget that is presented every February. It also provides the country and its elected representatives with an update on National Treasury’s economic forecasts, adjusts the budgets of the government departments and makes emergency changes to spending.
 
He is also scheduled to table the Adjustments Appropriation Bill, the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill during the same sitting.
 
The Portfolio Committee on Social Development takes the public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill to the Eastern Cape, in the OR Tambo and Chris Hani District Municipalities, and Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay Metros. 
 
The committee concludes the Northern Cape leg of its nationwide public hearings on the Bill. The Bill seeks to strengthen the protection of vulnerable children through the coordinated provision of care and protection services; address gaps and challenges in the child care and protection system and identify strategies to address these challenges and respond to a High Court order relating to the foster care challenges and provide for a comprehensive legislative system. 
 
On Tuesday, the Deputy Speaker of the NA, Mr Lechesa Tsenoli, will lead a high-level delegation of Members from both Houses of Parliament to the 51st Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region conference. The conference is scheduled to take place from 8 - 13 November 2021 in Abuja, Nigeria under the theme: "African Parliaments and the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic”.
 
The conference is expected to discuss, among other things, various countries’ experiences on the role of African parliaments in combating Covid-19, challenges on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during the Covid-19 pandemic focussing on both threats and opportunities, and the impact of the pandemic on gender particularly counting the cost of the health crisis on women and children in Africa.
 
At least 48 committee meetings are scheduled for this week and they are as follows:
 
TUESDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2021
 
Standing Committee on Finance will receive a briefing from the Auditor-General (AG) on audit outcomes of the National Treasury and its entities, and a briefing from the South African Revenue Services (SARS) on their annual report.
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will be briefed by the AG on the audit outcomes of the Department of Home Affairs; the Electoral Commission and the Government Printing Works for the 2020-21 financial year.
Select Committee on Finance will conduct public hearings on the Financial Sector Law Amendment Bill (75) and responses by National Treasury.
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education will receive briefings on examinations readiness for 2021 (an updated status Report) from the Department of Basic Education; Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi).
 
WEDNESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER 2021
 
Standing Committee on Finance will be briefed on the response by the National Treasury and SARS to the submissions received for the Taxation Laws Amendment, Tax Administration Laws Amendment and the Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bills.

Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition will engage the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) on the submissions received regarding the Copyright and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bills and consider the first draft of the fourth-quarter report on the financial and non-financial performance of the DTIC.

Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communications will receive a briefing from the Universal Services Access and Agency of South Africa (USAASA) on measures undertaken at the time of the Covid-19 pandemic including challenges encountered in ensuring that South Africans are connected and have access to ICT services as per the entity’s mandate.

Select Committee on Security and Justice will be briefed by the Ministry for Justice and Correctional Services on the Criminal Procedure Amendment Bill [B12-21 (section 75)], the committee will also consider and adopt a report on the removal from office of Ms J F van Schalkwyk; Chief Magistrate; Sub-Cluster Head; Kempton Park, Johannesburg in terms of section 13(4)(b) of the Magistrates Act, 1993 (Act No 90 of 1993)

THURSDAY, 11 NOVEMBER 2021
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration will receive a briefing from the AG on the audit outcomes for the 2020/21 financial year in relation to the Department of Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation; Brand SA and Statistics South Africa.

Portfolio Committee on Transport will be briefed by the entities of the Department of Transport on their 2020/21 annual reports.
 
FRIDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2021
 
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition will deliberate with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the submissions received regarding the Copyright and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bills; and will formally consider the department’s fourth-quarter report on its financial and non-financial performance.

Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture will receive briefings from the South African National Boxing Organization (SANABO) on the annual report, financial statements and other pertinent matters, and from the Basketball South Africa on financial and governance matters, as well as preparations for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to indicate their readiness for elections.

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Appropriations, the committees will be briefed by the Minister of Finance on 2021 MTBPS.

Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, the committees will be briefed on the working conditions of the farmworkers; farm dwellers; farming communities and farmers.

Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament will be briefed by the Executive Authority and the Minister of Finance on progress made as far as addressing concerns about the allocation of Parliament’s budget including a briefing by the Chairperson of the Parmed Board on progress made in resolving the issues around the Parmed liability.
 

Issued by the Parliament of South Africa