Deputy President David Mabuza will do one of his least favourite things on Wednesday afternoon: answer questions from MPs. And his views on Russia's invasion will be one of the topics canvassed.

Mabuza will answer questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Wednesday. The session was originally scheduled for last week, but it was postponed.

News24 reported two weeks ago Mabuza unsuccessfully asked President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy him to Luthuli House.

The following day, Mabuza's office denied he requested to go to Luthuli House.

Mabuza spent more than a month in Russia last year, reportedly receiving medical treatment.

The Democratic Alliance leader in the NCOP, Cathlene Labuschagne, has a question on the order paper on whether he supports International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor's call on Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

Pandor issued this statement on the first day of the invasion, but Ramaphosa backtracked the following day, and the government has given Russia its tacit support by, among other things, abstaining from a UN vote condemning the invasion.

Ramaphosa and his administration also refuse to acknowledge Russia is the aggressor and refers to the invasion as a "conflict".

Last year, while answering questions in the National Assembly, Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula shielded Mabuza from a question about who he met while in Russia.

But most of the questions will focus on domestic matters, among them the simmering xenophobia.

"This will be the first appearance by the deputy president in the National Council of Provinces since the 2022 opening of Parliament.

"Deputy President Mabuza will respond to questions relating to his role as the chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Reform and Agriculture on the processing of land claims.

"To this end, the deputy president will update the House on steps that have been taken by government to eradicate administrative hurdles and challenges that contribute to slowing down the pace of land reform," read a statement from the Presidency.

"The deputy president will also respond to a question on measures by government to address water provision challenges and delivery of quality drinking water to communities.

"In this regard, the deputy president will apprise the National Council of Provinces on government's efforts on investment in water infrastructure and of ensuring that all households enjoy access to quality water.

"On the question on his role as patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement, [the] deputy president is expected to assure members of the National Council of Provinces that the movement continues to implement programmes in support of a broader social cohesion and national building agenda of the country.

"In this case, the deputy president will outline the various programmes as informed by the Charter of Positive Values, and are being implemented by government in pursuit of a morally sound society.

"Deputy President Mabuza will also respond to questions on implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan in a co-ordinated way by different spheres of government, efforts on addressing criminal activities involving foreign nationals that may undermine social cohesion, as well as South Africa's stance on the conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine."

Ramaphosa will answer questions in the National Assembly on Thursday, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine again on the agenda. The NCOP's question session with Mabuza is scheduled for 14:00.