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President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Annual Address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Questions to the Economics Cluster Ministers, debates on World AIDS Day, and 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence are scheduled for this week’s parliamentary programme.
 
In a move to enhance ongoing public accountability, transparency and openness during this 7th term of Parliament, Parliament will start its Weekly Committee Cluster Media Briefings programme this week. Through this regular programme, parliamentary committees – often referred to as the engines that drive the work of Parliament – will provide regular, structured insights into their vital work, to showcase the deeper, continuous work of Parliament.
 
 The first briefing kicks off on Monday with oversight committees in the finance  cluster, which play a vital role in ensuring financial accountability and good governance: the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Standing Committee on Finance, the Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Standing Committee on the Auditor-General.
 
Other items include considering the Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports (BRRR), condolence motions for Princess S.A. Buthelezi (MP), and the National Assembly (NA) mini-plenary sessions.
 
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver his Annual Address to the NCOP on Thursday at 14:00 followed by a debate on the address. The proposed theme of the address and the debate is “Dedicating our efforts towards reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living.”
 
During its hybrid plenary on Tuesday at 14:00, the NA will hold a debate on World AIDS Day under the theme: “Equal rights, equal access to quality care for all.” The House will also consider a report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill and decide on a draft resolution from Mr Sinawo Tambo of the Economic Freedom Fighters on the establishment of an ad hoc committee to investigate some local government municipalities and private security companies found to be in violation of Section 13A of Pensions Fund Act that was debated in a mini-plenary session on 15 November 2024.
 
During the NCOP’s plenary on Tuesday, delegates will hold two debates - one on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and the second under the theme, “Waging a concerted battle against crime to build safer living and business spaces for our people.”
 
On Wednesday at 15:00, the Economics Cluster 4 Ministers will be in the NA for a hybrid question-and-answer session. Oral question-and-answer sessions are among the methods Parliament employs to hold the executive accountable. The Cluster comprises ministers in the national departments of agriculture, communications and digital technologies, electricity and energy, employment and labour, finance, forestry, fisheries and the environment, and minerals and petroleum resources.
 
At this sitting, the NA will also consider two reports of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, namely, the Draft notice and schedule determining the rate, with effect from 1 April 2023, at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to members of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. The other report is on the Draft notice and schedule determining the rate, effective from 1 April 2024, at which salaries, allowances and benefits are payable to members of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities.
 
Five ministers are scheduled to deliver their Executive Statements during the hybrid sitting of the NCOP on Wednesday at 14:00 as follows:
 
Minister of Transport Ms Barbara Creecy’s statement is on the roadmap to stabilise Transnet’s performance, reform the country’s logistics system to address inefficiencies and improve the ports and rail transportation systems.
 
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mr Gayton Mackenzie's statement is on executive action and measures to revitalise the cultural and creative industries economy in South Africa.
 
Minister of Home Affairs Mr Leon Schreiber's statement is on digital transformation of the Department of Home Affairs for efficient and effective delivery of services to the public.
 
Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu’s statement is on Crime Prevention Policy and implementing the National Crime Prevention Strategy to fight crime and strengthen the South African Police Service to build safer communities.
 
Minister of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Ms Maropene Ramokgopa's statement  is on the Draft Medium-Term Development Plan 2024 – 2029, a progress update and modelling of growth scenarios in South Africa.
 
On Thursday, the NA plenary at 14:00 is scheduled to consider reports of the Standing Committee on Finance on the Rates and Monetary Amounts Amendment Bill, the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill, the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, the Rates and Monetary Amounts Amendment Bill, the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill, the Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill and the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill. The House will kick off its proceedings for the day with condolence messages for the late Inkatha Freedom Party’s Princess Sibuyiselwe Angela Buthelezi, MP, who passed on last month.
 
Both the NA and the NCOP will convene their Programming Committee meetings on Thursday at 08:30 to plan Parliament’s business. The meetings will consider the draft programmes, committee reports and bills before the two Houses of Parliament.
 
On Friday at 08:30, the two Houses of Parliament will convene a virtual Joint Programme Committee meeting to consider the draft parliamentary programme, committee reports bills before the NA and the NCOP and other relevant, pertinent matters in the parliamentary programme in preparation for next year.
 
From 10:00 – 12:15, the NA will hold two virtual mini-plenary sessions to consider numerous committee reports as follows:
 
Mini-plenary 1:

Report of the Standing Committee on Finance on oversight visit to Ithala SOC Limited.

Report of the PC on Electricity and Energy on oversight visit to Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant.

Report of PC on Electricity and Energy on Nuclear Energy Summit

Mini-plenary 2:

Report of the PC on Mineral and Petroleum Resources on Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop.

Report of the PC on Police on oversight visit to Philippi Training Academy in Western Cape Province on 20 September 2024.

Report of the PC on Higher Education and Training on 2023/24 fourth quarter and 2024/25 first quarter financial and non-financial performance of Department of Higher Education and Training

From Tuesday until Thursday, the NA will consider the BRRRs of its various portfolio committees on government departments and their entities. The BRRR is a crucial oversight mechanism that enables the NA committees to integrate and consolidate budgetary oversight with other oversight work about service delivery issues. The Parliament’s BRRR practice provides an opportunity for an in-depth assessment of the national government departments’ service delivery performances, which may include recommendations on the future use of resources.
 
There are about forty-six (46) committee meetings scheduled from Tuesday until Friday for this week, as outlined below:
 
TUESDAY, 26 NOVEMBER 2024:
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Tabling and presentation of the 2023-24 Public Finance Management Act national and provincial audit outcomes by the Auditor General of South Africa, Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-11:45.
 
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Engagement with the Department of Cooperative Governance on Engagement on the State of Local Government report. Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Briefing by Adv G Breytenbach on the Constitution Twentieth Amendment Bill [B20-2023], Constitution Twenty-First Amendment Bill [B22-2024]. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation: Briefing by the National Research Foundation (NRF) on the Human Capital Development programme, inclusive of the full specifics of the Postgraduate Funding Policy. Venue to be confirmed, 09:30-12:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Transport: Briefing by the Department of Transport and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) on the proposed December/January Festive Season Road Safety Plan; Briefing by the Department of Transport on its 2024/25 Second Quarter Expenditure; Consideration and adoption of the draft 2025 First Term Committee programme; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings. Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:45.
 
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Briefing by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Subjects in respect of Teacher Training and Development; Strategies to promote learner achievement in STEM Subjects; Consideration and adoption of draft minutes and draft reports: Draft Report on DBE Second Quarter 2024/25; Draft Minutes: 13 November 2024, 15 November 2024 and 19 November 2024. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition: Briefing by the DTIC on its revised 2024/25 APP. Committee Room M201, Second Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Briefing by Cricket South Africa on its Annual Report, progress made in transforming the sport in the country and the outcomes of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Indaba held from 26 to 28 July 2024. Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:00-12:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Briefing by the SIU of all the investigations and current cases within the portfolio; Briefing by the department on progress in the implementation of recommendations emanating from interactions with unions during the 6th Parliament; Briefing by the Unions (CWU, NEHAWU, PSA, BEMAWU) on all outstanding labour relations matters in the ICT Sector; Consideration and adoption of Oversight Report to Eastern Cape; Adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation: Consideration of the Petition from the residents of Germiston, Hon. M Clarke (MP); Responses to the Petition: Department of Water and Sanitation, Rand Water Board and the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality; Progress Report by the Department of Water and Sanitation on resolving issues pertaining to the Petition of Nandoni Complaints Resolution Committee; Consideration and adoption of outstanding minutes and the Committee’s report on the oversight visit to the Western Cape Province. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30.

Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources: Consideration and adoption of an oversight report to the mines (Northwest and GP); Consideration and adoption of minutes of 23 and 29 October and 19 November 2024. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Briefing by the Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Council, Onderstepoort Biological Products, and the National Agricultural Marketing Council on the Second Quarterly Performance Reports for the 2024/25 Financial Year. Venue: Public Service Commission Boardroom, 21st Floor, Sanlam Golden Acre, Adderley Street, Cape Town, 09:30-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings: Consideration and adoption of outstanding reports and outstanding minutes. NSFAS Building, 16th Floor, Cape Town, 10:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Briefing by the Department of Tourism on the 2024/25 second quarter performance; Briefing by South African Tourism on the 2024/25 second quarter performance report; Consideration and adoption of minutes. Venue: Financial and Fiscal Commission, 11th floor, Grand Parade, 33 Heerengracht Street, Cape Town, 10:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services: Update by the Department of Correctional Services on the state of readiness to take over PPP facilities at the end of contracts and an update on the litigation underway concerning the Mangaung Correctional Centre; Consideration and adoption of oversight report; Consideration and adoption of BRR Report; Consideration and adoption of committee minutes. Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: Briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (BMA) on their plan for readiness for the festive season and the operational challenges at the Lebombo Port of Entry considering political instability in Mozambique; Consideration and adoption of the minutes. Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-12:30.
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on the 2024 Adjustments Appropriation Bill. Committee Room S26, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-12:45.
 
Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries: Consideration and adoption of Draft Minutes; Briefing by the Department of Basic Education on the state of infrastructure projects in schools (including infrastructure projects in schools for children with special needs. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources - An introduction to the department and key entities, the mandates and responsibilities of both the department and its entities; Briefing by the Department of Electricity and Energy – An introduction to the department and key entities of the department – Mandates and responsibilities of both the department and its entities; Consideration and adoption of Committee Minutes. NSFAS Cape Town, 4 Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town, 10:00-13:00.
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Briefing by the Pension Fund Adjudicator and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) on implementing the two-pot system and the failure of employers to pay pension contributions. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Finance: Public Hearings on Tax bills: Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB); Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB); Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendments of Revenue Laws Bill (Rates Bill); Global Minimum Tax Bill; Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill; and Revenue Laws Amendment Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00.

Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration: Briefing by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the Principal Acts of Public Service Amendment Bill (B14B-2023) and Public Administration Management Amendment Bill (B10B-2023), 2023/2024 Annual Report; and adoption of minutes dated 19 November 2024. Committee Room 2, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-14:00.
 
WEDNESDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2024:
Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy: Briefing by the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Mr Kgosi Ramokgopa, and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP); Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-10:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Police: Deliberation of Crime Statistics on Second Quarter 2024/25; Briefing by SAPS on Extortion; Briefing by the SAPS on Safer Festive Season Operations; Briefing by SAPS on the Intervention Plan to capacitate the Detective Services Division. Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 08:00-14:30.
 
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Planning meeting to prioritise the tabled annual reports; Renew the Memorandum of Understanding with the Special Investigating Unit. Committee Room M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-12:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements: Briefing by the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA) on the progress made in the Transformation Agenda and Transformation Fund; Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on its Second Quarter Report July – September 2024/25 financial year; Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training: Briefing by the DHET, USAF, SAPCO, SAUS, SATVETSA and NFSAS on the readiness for the 2025 academic year. Venue to be confirmed, 09:00-15:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Briefing by the Legal Practice Council (LPC) on disciplinary matters and challenges facing the LPC and legal profession. The Salga Towers, Foreshore, Cape Town, 09:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Briefing by the DPWI/PMTE on the 2024/25 First & Second Quarter performance; Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30.
 
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development: Briefings on the 2024/25 Quarter Two Performance Reports by the Department of Small Business Development and its entities. Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Trade Industry and Competition: Briefing by the National Treasury on the Public Procurement Act and its role in contributing to industrialisation, inclusive growth and transformation, as well as the roles of the DTIC, the DPME, the Accountant-General and the Auditor-General in ensuring compliance; Consideration of 2024/25 4th Term Programme. Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in Presidency: Consideration of the Annual Report of the identified Department of Transport Public Entity, namely Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA)]. Committee Room 2, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Social Development: Briefing by SASSA and DSD on the findings of the investigation on the allegations/findings made by Mr Gosai and Mr Cedras on the weaknesses in the application and payment system of the SRD grant. The briefing should outline mechanisms put in place to address the weaknesses. Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30- 13:00.
 
Select Committee on Social Services: Briefing by the Auditor-General of South Africa on the audit outcomes for DSD for the 2023/24 financial year; Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the Annual Report 2023/24; Consideration and adoption of Committee Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00.
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the Presidency on the 2024 Special Appropriation Bill. Committee Room S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development: Briefing by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development and Ingonyama Trust Board on their Annual Report 2023/24. Consideration and adoption of outstanding minutes. Venue: NSFAS Building, 16th Floor, Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town, 09:30-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: Briefing by the DMV on its 2024/25 First and Second Quarter expenditure and performance; Consideration of outstanding minutes. Committee Room S26, First Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing of the Export Credit Insurance Corporation South Africa regarding its 2024 Strategic and business plans; Consideration and adoption of Minutes. Public Service Commission Building, 10:00-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service and the South African Police Service on the Domestic Violence Act implementation report Oct 2023 – March 2024; Committee discussion/reply by minister and department. NSFAS Venue, The Halyard No. 4, Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town, 10:00-13:00.

Standing Committee on Finance: Briefing by National Treasury and entities on audit action plans. Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Consideration and adoption of the A list and B Bill of the Public Service Commission Bill; Consideration and adoption of the Committee Report on the PSC Bill; Consideration and adoption of the minutes. Venue to be confirmed, 10:00-16:30.
 
FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2024:
Select Committee on Finance: Response by National Treasury and SARS on Tax Bills and consideration of bills clause by clause: Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB); Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB); Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendments of Revenue Laws Bill (Rates Bill); Global Minimum Tax Bill; Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill; and Revenue Laws Amendment Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00.
 
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Briefing by the Sport Trust on the work they do and projects on sports facilities. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:30.
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Public Hearings on the 2024 MTBPS, 2024 Adjustments Appropriation Bill and the 2024 Special Appropriation Bill. Good Hope Chamber, Ground Floor, Good Hope Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00.
 
Joint Standing Committee on Defence: Introductory briefing on the South African Defence Industry (by the South African Aerospace Maritime Defence Industries Association); Engagement with the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) on outstanding Quarterly Reports; Consideration of Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00.
 
Select Committee on Appropriations: Consideration of Negotiating Mandates on Division of Revenue Amendment Bill [B13 – 2024]. Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:00-14:00.
 

Issued by Parliament