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The President’s Opening of Parliament Address (OPA) is among the highlights on Parliament’s agenda for the week. Also on the agenda are more mini plenaries on budget votes and public hearings on the 2024 Appropriation Bill.
 
On Thursday at 19:00, the two Houses of Parliament – the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) – will convene for a joint sitting at Cape Town City Hall for President Cyril Ramaphosa to deliver the 2024 OPA. The Constitution empowers the President to summon Parliament for an extraordinary joint sitting to conduct “special business”.
 
According to the new Joint Rules of Parliament, the OPA is now distinct from the State of the Nation Address (SONA). The SONA is held annually in February to outline the government's plans and priorities for the year and report on the state of the nation. The OPA, on the other hand, occurs once every five years, after elections, to announce the new administration's plans and to mark the beginning of the new five-year parliamentary term. The OPA coincides with Nelson Mandela International Day - an annual global celebration on 18 July to honour the life and legacy of former President Nelson Mandela by emulating his exemplary and selfless service to humanity.
 
Parliament’s Presiding Officers, led by the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, are expected to address the media on the state of readiness to host the OPA. The details will be communicated in due time.
 
On Tuesday at 08:30 am, the NCOP has scheduled its Programming Committee meeting to consider the draft parliamentary programme, reports and bills before the House. The two Houses also have Joint Programming Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday at 09:15.
 
Meanwhile, the NCOP will have plenary sittings on Tuesday and Wednesday for four policy debates on Budget Votes and to consider legislation before the House, motions and various committee reports. The hybrid plenary on Tuesday will hold debates on Budget Vote 3 (Cooperative Governance) and Budget Vote 41 (Water and Sanitation). On Wednesday, the House will have policy debates on Budget Vote 5 (Home Affairs) and Budget Vote 18 (Health).
 
On Friday from 10:00 until 20:00, Parliament will host a joint sitting of the NA and the NCOP to debate the President’s Opening of Parliament Address at Cape Town City Hall.
 
The 8 National Assembly mini plenaries scheduled from Monday to Wednesday will process 23 Budget Votes as follows:
 
MONDAY, 15 JULY:
MINI PLENARY 1 (10:00 – 12:00)

Debate on Vote 40: Transport in the Good Hope Chamber (GHC).

Debate on Vote 30: Communications and Digital Technologies (M46)

Debate on Vote 5: Home Affairs (S12A)

MINI PLENARY 2 (14:00 – 16:00)

Debate on Vote 16: Basic Education (GHC)

Debate on Vote 9: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (M46)

Debate on Vote 22: Correctional Services (S12A)

MINI PLENARY 3 (16:15 – 18:15)

Debate on Vote 32: Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (GHC)

Debate on Vote 8: National Treasury (State Security) (M46)

Debate on Vote 23 and 26: Defence and Military Veterans (S12A)   

TUESDAY, 16 JULY: 
MINI PLENARY 1 (10:00 – 12:00)

Debate on Vote 28, 24 & 21: Police (including Independent Police Investigate Directorate and Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service) (GHC)

Debate on Vote 29: Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (M46)

Debate on Vote 37: Sport, Arts and Culture (S12A)

MINI PLENARY 2 (14:00 – 16:00)

Debate on Vote 10: Public Enterprises (GHC)

Debate on Vote 13: Public Works and Infrastructure (M46)

Debate on Vote 17: Higher Education and Training (S12A)

MINI PLENARY 3 (16:15 – 18:15)

Debate on Vote 39: Trade, Industry and Competition (GHC)

Debate on Vote 38: Tourism (M46)

Debate on Vote 3 and 15: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (S12A)

WEDNESDAY, 17 JULY:
MINI PLENARY 1 (14:00 – 16:00)

Debate on Vote 25: Justice and Constitutional Development (GHC)

Debate on Vote 19: Social Development (M46)

Debate on Vote 8: National Treasury (S12A)

MINI PLENARY 2 – (16:15 - 18:15)

Debate on Vote 35: Science and Innovation (GHC)

Debate on Vote 33: Human Settlements (M46)

With the parliamentary committee structures now established and chairpersons elected, the committees of the two Houses have scheduled 13 committee meetings for this week. These committees will get briefings from ministers and consider and adopt the draft reports on the Budget Votes. The Standing Committee on Appropriations will have virtual public hearings on the Appropriations Bill on Friday.
 
The list of the committee meetings scheduled for this week is as follows:
 
MONDAY, 15 JULY 2024 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Consideration and adopting the draft budget vote report (Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00).
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Briefing by the Minister of Finance on the Annual Performance Plan of National Treasury and its entities (Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 11:00 -15:00).
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the minister and department on the Home Affairs Budget Vote 5 (Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 14:00 -17:00).
 
TUESDAY, 16 JULY 2024
Portfolio Committee on Social Development: Consideration and adoption of the committee report on the annual performance plan and budget of the Department of Social Development and its entities for the 2024/25 financial year (Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 - 10:00).
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: Briefing by the Content Advisor on the Portfolio Committee Legacy Report of the 6th Parliament; Briefing by the Committee Secretary on the Committee’s First Term Programme; Consideration and adoption of the minutes (Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, 09:00 - 12:00).
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on the 2024 Appropriation Bill (Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00).
 
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Presentation on the PC on Basic Education Legacy Report and Members Orientation Session with Committee Secretariat; Consideration and Adoption of draft minutes (Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 - 12:30).
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Consideration of Committee Report on Home Affairs Budget Vote 5 (Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00 - 11:00).
 
Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by National Treasury on Appropriation Bill (Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 - 13:00).
 
WEDNESDAY, 17 JULY 2024
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2024 Appropriation Bill (Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 - 12:00).
 
Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by Financial and Fiscal Commission on Appropriation Bill (Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 - 13:00).
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the minister and department on the Police Budget Vote 28 (Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00 - 13:00).
 
FRIDAY, 19 JULY 2024 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Public Hearings on the 2024 Appropriation Bill (Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 - 12:00).
 

Issued by Parliament