/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

 Questions for oral replies by the President, Deputy President, and Social Services Cluster ministers, as well as hybrid and virtual plenaries to consider committee reports and debate important matters, will take center stage when both the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) resume their work in the third term of the Parliamentary Programme this week.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa will appear to answer questions from Members of the National Assembly in a hybrid plenary sitting on Tuesday at 2 pm. This will be the president's third of the four appearances he is required to make before the NA in a year.
 
Meanwhile, Deputy President Paul Mashatile will also appear before delegates to the NCOP on Thursday at 2 pm to give an oral reply to questions. Questions for oral replies are some of Parliament's efficient mechanisms for holding the executive accountable.
 
On Tuesday, the NCOP will convene a hybrid plenary sitting from 10 am to receive oral replies to questions from the Social Services Cluster 2A ministers. This Cluster comprises ministers responsible for Basic Education as well as Higher Education, Science, and Innovation.
 
The NCOP questions and answer session will reconvene on Wednesday at 10 am to solicit responses from Social Services Cluster 2B ministries, which comprise the Ministers of Health and Social Development respectively. Following the questions and answer session, NCOP delegates will proceed to a hybrid Provincial Week Preparatory Workshop scheduled to begin at 2 pm. The workshop is in preparation for the provincial week oversight visits to all nine provinces by NCOP delegates from Monday, September 11th, until Friday, September 15th.
 
All Cluster 2 ministers will provide oral replies in the NA during a hybrid plenary scheduled from 3 pm until 6 pm on Wednesday.
 
On Thursday, the NA will convene another hybrid plenary sitting at 2 pm to pay tribute to former MP Ms. Tina Joemat-Petterson and to consider the Standing Committee on Finance's report on the Public Finance Management Amendment Bill [B 41 – 2018].
 
On Friday, the NA will convene three virtual mini plenaries from 10 am to 1 pm to consider at least twelve committee reports, as follows:
Mini-plenary 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),

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),

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),

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: 

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),

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),

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),

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:

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),

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),

Consideration of Report of PC on Basic Education on Oversight visit to Mpumalanga Provincial Education Department (ATC, 27 September 2022, p 8) (49),

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).

Most of Parliament’s work takes place within committees, where issues are debated in more detail than in plenary sessions. They also increase the level of participation of MPs and ensure that they develop expertise and in-depth knowledge of specific topics and matters that affect society.
 
There are forty-three (43) committee meetings scheduled for both houses of Parliament this week, as follows:
 
TUESDAY, 5 SEPTEMBER 
 
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, [Consideration of a petition from the residents of Northern and North-Eastern suburbs of Rustenburg, calling on the Assembly to investigate the water supply crisis in Rustenburg (Mrs C Phillips) Referred on 7June 2023; Consideration of a petition from the residents of Warrenton, calling on the Assembly to investigate the water supply crisis in Warrenton (Ms M E Sukers) June 11, 2023; Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations, [Briefing by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on its submission on the 2024/25 Division of Revenue], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, [Report by the DPWI on its role in smart city projects to deal with the infrastructure requirements and service delivery needs of client department in planned smart cities such as Mooikloof Mega City in Pretoria, Nkosi City adjacent to Kruger National Park, the Durban Aerotropolis and the Lanseria Smart City; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
 
Standing Committee on Finance, [Briefing by National Treasury on the Public Procurement Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Transport, [Public hearings on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Bill [B10-2022]; Deliberations on the Railway Safety Bill [B7 - 2021]: Consideration and adoption of proposed list of amendments; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings], Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor,
Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, [Briefing by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) and their Entities on the 2022/23 Third and Fourth Quarter Expenditure and Financial Reports; Briefing by ICASA on the National Elections Regulations], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, [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).
Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, [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, [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 Basic Education, [Consideration and Adoption of Draft Minutes and Draft Reports; Presentation of Draft Final PC Strategic Plan, 2019 – 2023 and APP 2023/24 as revised from 19 April 2022 (possible consideration and adoption)], Virtual Meeting Platform or Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, [Deliberations on the Climate Change Bill (A- list)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,[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
 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism, [Update on the implementation of the recommendations tabled in the 2023 Vote 38 Budget report (refer to the ATC report); Briefing by the South African Tourism on the 2022/23 Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 performance reports; Consideration of minutes], Taj Hotel, 1 Wale Street, St Georges Mall, Cape Town, 10:00
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice, [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

Issued by Parliament