/ 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.

This week, Members of the National Assembly (NA) will conduct the last oral question-and-answer session for the sixth parliamentary term with Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Also on the agenda for this week are oral questions to the economic cluster ministers, consideration of bills before both Houses of Parliament, and the 148th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly underway in Geneva this week.
 
The Deputy President will appear before the NA virtually on Thursday at 14:00. The Economics Cluster (5) ministers will appear before the NA on Wednesday at 15:00. Cluster 5 comprises ministers responsible for the Departments of Public Enterprises; Public Works and Infrastructure; Small Business Development; Tourism; Trade, Industry and Competition; as well as Transport. The sitting will also consider the Report of the Standing Committee on Finance on the Pension Funds Amendment Bill.
 
These oral question sessions are one of the mechanisms Parliament uses to hold the Executive accountable.
 
On Tuesday at 10:00, the NA will convene a hybrid plenary to consider several committees reports and finalise several bills, including the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill, the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure SOC Limited Bill, the Division of Revenue Bill, the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account Defrayal Amendment Bill, and the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, among others.
 
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold a hybrid plenary on Tuesday at 14:00 to consider motions and the report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on the Petition for the NCOP to intervene on behalf of the Raseale family. The petition relates to the disappearance of the mortal remains of Ms Mary Raseale’s son who has been presumed dead since September 2021, according to information from the South African Police Service (SAPS).
 
The NCOP will also consider the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill, the IPID Amendment Bill, the National Youth Development Agency Amendment Bill, the Companies Amendment Bill, and the Housing Consumer Protection Bill.
 
Both Houses will rise for the Easter constituency period which begins on 2 April, with the NCOP scheduled to return on 15 April, while the NA will only return on 21 May.
 
On the international front, the Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP, Ms Sylvia Lucas, leads a multiparty parliamentary delegation to the 148th IPU Assembly which commenced on Saturday in Geneva, Switzerland.
 
The seven-member multi-party delegation will this week participate in various Standing Committee Meetings and related meetings of the IPU Assembly. As leader of the delegation, Ms Sylvia Lucas will participate in the Assembly’s general debate on the theme: “Parliamentary diplomacy: Building bridges for peace and understanding.”
 
Ms Doris Dlakude, Deputy Chief Whip of the African National Congress and NCOP Chief Whip, Mr Seiso Mohai, will represent the delegation in the Peace and International Security Committee, where they will contribute to discussions on a resolution titled: “Addressing the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapon systems and artificial intelligence.”
 
Mr Cedric Frolick, House Chairperson responsible for Committees, Oversight and ICT will participate in the United Nations (UN) Affairs session which will examine the new UN Youth Office to ensure youth engagement.
 
Ms Fikile Masiko, a Member of the African National Congress and Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, Chief Whip of the United Democratic Movement will represent the delegation in the Sustainable Development Committee on the Partnerships for Climate Action: Promoting access to affordable, green energy, and ensuring innovation, responsibility, and equity. Mr Narend Singh, Chief Whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party, will also participate in the Assembly’s general debate.
 
There are fifteen (15) committee meetings scheduled for this week:
 
TUESDAY, 26 MARCH 2024
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Consideration and adoption of the motion of desirability on the Responsible Spending Bill[B9-2023], Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour: Consideration of Final Mandates on the National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill [B16B - 2023] (National Assembly - sec 76) and adoption of the report; Consideration and adoption of Committee Annual Report and Legacy Report for Sixth Parliament; Consideration and adoption of minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Select Committee on Finance: Consideration of policy issues and possible adoption of the committee report on the Public Procurement Bill [B18B-2023], Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament: Consideration and adoption of committee minutes; and Sixth Parliament Legacy Report of the JSCFMP, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Briefing by Department on SABC Corporate Plan and progress on stop gap measures; Briefing by the Oversight Task Team on the SAPO/BRP implementation; Adoption of the Revised APP Report; Adoption of minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
WEDNESDAY, 27 MARCH 2024
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Consideration and adoption of the 2024/25 Budget Vote Report; Consideration and adoption of the PC PWI final draft Legacy Report; Report by the Council for the Built Environment (CBE) with the full Board of the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) on matters related to governance, compliance, and transformation, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Consideration and adoption of the Committee Legacy report, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Portfolio Committee on Police: Adoption of Final Legacy Report, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements: 09:00-11:00: Briefing by South African Local Government Association (SALGA) on challenges in the implementation of the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, 1998; 11:00- 11:30: Briefing by Ms L Powell, the sponsor of the Bill on the proposed amendments on the Prevention of Illegal Eviction from and Unlawful Occupation of Land Act, 1998 A/B [B6-23 (s76)] Referred on 17 October 2023 – Private Members Bill; 11:30-12:30: Response by the Department of Human Settlements on the above presentations; 12:30-13:00: Consideration and adoption of minutes and reports, Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Health: Consideration and adoption of the Committee’s legacy report; Consideration and adoption of minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure: Select Committee Consideration of Written and Oral Submissions on: Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships)
Amendment Bill [B5—2022]; Transport Appeal Tribunal Amendment Bill [B8B—2022]; Railway Safety Bill [B7B—2021], Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development: Consideration and adoption of 2023/24 Annual Report; Consideration and adoption of 6th Term Legacy Report; Consideration and adoption of minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 
Select Committee on Education and Technology, Sport, Arts and Culture: Consideration and adoption of the draft Committee Legacy report and draft minutes; Consideration of Negotiating Mandates on the Basic Education Laws
Amendment Bill [B 2B-2022] (s76), Virtual Meeting Platform
 
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: Consideration and adoption of the PCDMV Legacy Report of the 6th Parliament; Consideration
and adoption of outstanding minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
THURSDAY, 28 MARCH 2024
 
Joint Standing Committee on Defence: Briefing by the NCACC on its 2023 Annual Report; Consideration and adoption of the JSCD Legacy Report for the 6th Parliament; Consideration of outstanding minutes, Virtual Meeting Platform.
 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa