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The National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, will lead a multi-party Parliamentary delegation to the 8th BRICS Parliamentary Forum (BRICS PF) virtual meeting on 6 September 2022, from 2 pm to 3:30 pm. The theme is ‘Leveraging the role of the legislature to foster high-quality BRICS partnership’. 
 
The National People’s Congress of China is the host of the session as they assumed the rotational Chairship of BRICS from 1 January to 31 December 2022. South Africa is next in line to host the 9th BRICS PF in 2023. 
 
Also on Tuesday, the NA will convene a hybrid plenary sitting at 2 pm to consider various reports. Amongst the reports scheduled for consideration is the Performance of 2021/22 Second and Third Quarters of the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Gender Transformation Investigations in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges, and others.
 
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will host the Ministerial Briefing Session on the Scale and Impact of the Destruction of Public Property and Community Facilities. The session is themed, “Measures to Protect Public Infrastructure and Community Facilities from Vandalism and Destruction”. It will convene virtually on Tuesday, 6 September, from 10 am until 4 pm.
 
On Wednesday at 2 pm, Social Services Cluster Ministers are scheduled to give Oral Replies to Questions in the NA hybrid plenary. Parliament uses a range of mechanisms, including Questions for Oral Reply by the President, the Deputy President, and the Ministers, to hold Members of the Executive accountable. The sitting will also consider the Children’s Amendment Bill.
 
The Children’s Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Children’s act of 2005. It aims 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. It further seeks to respond to a High Court order relating to the foster care challenges and provide for a comprehensive legislative system. 
 
The NA and NCOP Programming committees will convene separately on Thursday at 8.30 am to consider the business of the House, reports and bills, and finalise programmes for both Houses.
 
The NA hybrid plenary scheduled for 2 pm will debate an Urgent Matter of National Public Importance. The Chief Whip of the Majority Party will lead the debate titled, “Persistent illegal mining activities and concomitant crimes”. 
 
The plenary will also consider various reports, including the consideration of the Report of PC on Communications on the Recommendation of candidates to fill two vacancies on the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board.
 
Meanwhile, the NCOP will also convene at 2 pm on the same day to debate the Restoration and Modernization of Rail Infrastructure in South Africa: Revolutionising our rail services for efficient transportation.
 
There are about 34 Committee meetings scheduled for this week, including:
 
TUESDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 2022 
 
Standing Committee on Finance, Briefing by National Treasury on the Financial Matters Amendment Bill.
 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Briefing by South African Tourism (SAT) on Third and Fourth Quarter Performance Report for 2021/22 financial year; Draft Committee Programme for Third Term of 2022; Consideration of draft minutes.
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications, Adoption of GCIS and DCDT 2021/22 Third and Fourth Quarter Performance Report; Consideration and adoption of the SABC Board Subcommittee programme.
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs and the Department of Home Affairs on the progress made in the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP); Briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs on the progress made on the implementation plan of the Ministerial Reviewing Committee on permits and visas; Update by the Minister of Home Affairs on suspensions of senior officials and update on Shepard Bushiri’s escape.
 
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, Briefing by the South African Figure Skating Association on their Annual Report and any other pertinent matters; Consideration and adoption of minutes.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Briefing by the Commissioners of the UIF and Compensation Fund on the progress regarding the implementation of corrective measures at the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Compensation Fund.

Select Committee on Health and Social Services, Discussion of the programme for the processing of the Children’s Amendment Bill, Sec 76 [B18B-2020]].

Select Committee on Finance, Briefing by Development Bank of Southern Africa on their quarterly report and challenges in executing their mandate.
 
WEDNESDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2022

Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Climate Change Bill [B9-2022] Oral submissions; Briefing by the Working for Fire Programme following the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill Public Hearings, including the reasons for the cancellation of tenders for natural resource management programs and way forward for the programs concerned]

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Final consideration of the Expropriation Bill [B23-2020].

Select Committee on Appropriations, Hearing with National Treasury and Department of Social Development on expenditure performance in the 4th quarter of 2021/22 of the Early Childhood Development Grant; Consideration of draft Minutes of previous meeting.

Portfolio Committee on Police, Public hearings on Protection of Constitutional Democracy against Terrorist and Related Activities Amendment Bill [B15-2022]; Addendum to the Annual Performance Plan of the South African Police Service for 2022/23.

Portfolio Committee on Health, Clause by clause deliberations on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, Briefing by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation on the Policy Framework on the Integrated Planning to improve institutionalisation and harmonisation in the planning system.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Hearing on the Audit Report of the Road Accident Fund for the financial year under review (2020/21)]

Select Committee on Security and Justice, Briefing by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on the following: Ratification of the Agreement between the Republic of India, the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of South Africa on the IBSA Fund for the Alleviation of Poverty and Hunger, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996; and Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan African Parliament of 2014, tabled in terms of section 231(2) of the Constitution, 1996.

THURSDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2022

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Briefing by the Minister on the appointment of the Reserve Force Council and the Chief Defence Reserves; Briefing by the DOD in response to the Succession Planning Discussion- status quo, challenges and the way forward.

FRIDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2022 

Standing Committee on Appropriations, Briefing by the Compensation Fund on the issues contributing to its audit findings over the recent financial years.

Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, Update on matters related to the investigation into the 2 January 2022 fire on the parliamentary precinct in particular progress made in the renovation effort, the sourcing of interim venues to host plenaries, and the appoint of the panel of built environment experts to advise the Executive Authority on matters related to the restoration: Briefings by the South African Police Service, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, and Parliament.
 
 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa