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Committee oversight visits and Questions for Oral Reply from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) delegates are among the key items on Parliament’s agenda this week, as both Houses of Parliament – the National Assembly (NA) and the NCOP - kickstart the third and last term of the year following a constituency period.
 
On Tuesday at 14:00, Cluster 2A: Social Services, which includes the Ministers of Basic Education and the Minister of Higher Education, will answer questions in the NCOP. The Ministers will answer questions on various matters, including stabilising the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), assessments in TVET Colleges, budget cuts in basic education, and reduction of teaching contracts.
 
On Wednesday at 14:00, Cluster 2B: Social Services, which includes the Minister of Health and Minister of Social Development, will appear before NCOP delegates to answer questions on various issues, such as progress on implementing the National Health Insurance (NHI) and poverty eradication.
 
On Thursday, also at 14:00, Cluster 2C Social Services, which includes the Minister of Social Services and the Minister of Water and Sanitation, will answer questions from NCOP delegates on abandoned housing projects and pollution of water resources. This plenary will be preceded by the NCOP Programming Committee, scheduled for 08:30, which will consider the programme of the House, bills before the House, and other priority programmes of the NCOP.
 
Meanwhile, some NA committees will embark on oversight visits to various state entities across the country this week while others conduct their usual meetings. The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education is among the committees going on oversight visits. The committee will assess the state of schools in two provinces, the Northern Cape and the Western Cape.
 
The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) will visit Eskom and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), while the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs will visit several municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal to discuss challenges related to governance, access to water, and service delivery issues.
 
Oversight is a function granted by the Constitution to Parliament to monitor and oversee government action. When exercising oversight, Parliament focuses on the implementation of laws, application of budgets, strict observance of the laws of Parliament and the Constitution and effective management of government departments and entities. By overseeing government actions, Parliament, among others, ensures service delivery so that all citizens can live better-quality lives.
 
There are 25 committee meetings this week. They are scheduled as follows:
 
TUESDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2024 
 
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Briefing by the Auditor-General on the DoD, DMV, Armscor, and CCB audit outcomes on the financial and non-financial performance of the departments and entities for 2023/24; engagement with National Treasury on the declining budget allocation of the Department of Defence, funding for SANDF missions, funding for SANDF equipment acquisition and maintenance, compensation of employees and the budget allocation of the Department of Military Veterans; and consideration of outstanding minutes. Committee Room 2, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:00-16:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Briefing by the Auditor-General on the Annual Financial Statements, Political overview and introduction of Annual Reports by the minister. Committee Room M514, Marks Building, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, National State Enterprises Bill of 2024, Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation’s introductory briefing on the draft legislation; Consideration of and formal decision regarding desirability of the Bill; the presentation of processing schedule, and advertisement for public comment on Bill; and consideration of draft minutes. Room 4, Fourth Floor, 90 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:30
 
WEDNESDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2024
 
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, (09:00-11:00) Briefing by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on audit outcomes of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and entities, 2023/24 Annual Reports; (11:00-15:00) briefing by DHET on Annual Report 2023/24; and (15:00-18:00) briefing by the Services SETA on Annual Report 2023/24. Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:00-18:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Briefing by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on Annual Report, performance, and spending for the first and second quarters of 2024/2025 and forward funding proposals for the 2025 MTEF. Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) briefing on the 2023/24 financial year’s audit outcomes for the DPME, Brand SA and Stats SA. Committee Room S26, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30
 
THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2024
 
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Briefing by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) and Council on Higher Education (CHE) on Annual Report 2023/24 and briefing by the CHE on the remuneration of Vice-Chancellors and other senior management executives of universities. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-15:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Briefing by the Office of the Chief Justice on Annual Report, performance and spending for the first and second quarters of 2024/2025 and forward funding proposals for the 2025 MTEF. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, Briefing by the Public Protector South Africa on Annual Report, performance and spending for the first and second quarters of 2024/2025 and forward funding proposals for the 2025 MTEF. Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00
 
FRIDAY, 11 OCTOBER 2024
 
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, (National Assembly) Briefing by the Northern Cape Urban TVET on 2023/24 Annual Report. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development, (National Assembly) Briefing by the National Prosecuting Authority on Annual Report, performance and spending for the first and second quarters of 2024/2025 and forward funding proposals for the 2025 MTEF. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
 
For the latest full schedule of Committee meetings (updated regularly), please visit: https://www.parliament.gov.za/committee-schedules

Issued by Parliament of South Africa