Happening at Parliament this week
This week Deputy President David Mabuza is scheduled for an oral question and answer session in the National Assembly (NA) on Wednesday. These regular oral question and answer sessions at House plenary sittings are one of the mechanisms in which Parliament holds the executive to account.
The Deputy President's scheduled appearance this week, follows the tabling last week of the 2019 Budget and associated Bills by Finance Minister Mr Tito Mboweni.
The Plenary sitting of the National Assembly on Tuesday is also scheduled to consider four (4) Bills namely Public Investment Corporation Bill, Public Investment Corporation Amendment Bill (Committee Bill), Finance and Customs and Excise Amendment Bill, Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Bill. On Thursday the Plenary will consider the Airports Company Amendment Bill.
During its Plenary Sitting on Thursday, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold a debate on the report of its flagship programme, Taking Parliament to the People, which took place in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality in November 2018. The scheduled debate will in part, focus on pertinent issues concerning the impact and consequences of migration in the provision of basic services such as healthcare, education, safety and security and economic development, not only in the Gauteng province, but in many parts of the country which the report highlighted.
The NCOP will further consider reports of the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs on termination of intervention to the Umzinyathi District Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal as well as the notice of intervention to Mahikeng Local Municipality.
Committees of Parliament continue their work to consider various bills and other business. During this week, 46 Committees in the NCOP and NA are scheduled to meet from Monday to Friday.
Items coming up at these meetings include briefing from several government departments, deliberation on Bills, legislative issues and public participation, which include public hearings by the Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings, in relation to the alleged cover up by the Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding reported irregularities, maladministration, fraud, poor working conditions and victimization of employees within the Khayelitsha District Hospital.
The portfolio committee on police will continue with its deliberations on the term of office of IPID’s Executive Director, Mr Robert McBride, as per the referral by the Speaker of the National Assembly to the committee several weeks ago. The Portfolio Committee on Communications will on Tuesday conduct shortlisting of candidates ford the boards of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and Media Development and Diversity Agency (MMDA) and discuss the NCOP proposed amendments to Films and Publications Amendment Bill.
Committee meetings scheduled for the week ahead include:
Tuesday
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Stakeholder engagement on the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill
Select Committee on Social Services, Final Mandates on the National Public Health Institute of South Africa Bill (NPHIS)
Select Committee on Trade and International Relations, Consideration of the written Submissions on National Gambling Amendment Bill.
Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services, Briefing by ICASA on the cost to communicate.
Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, Consideration and adoption: Report on the regulations to the Public Finance Amendment Act; Appointment of the Deputy Auditor-General.
Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation, Briefing by South African Football Association on Banyana Banyana’s preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France; Briefing by National Lotteries Commission on allocations supporting sport and recreation in the 2018/19 financial year; and allocations for sport and recreation programmes in the 2019/20 financial year;
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Briefing by Ministers of Home Affairs, Police and Justice and Correctional Services on the consultation on the Immigration Bill;
Wednesday
Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Briefing on the political developments in Venezuela and South Africa’s contribution to a peaceful resolution of the challenges in Venezuela; Briefing on political developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo post the presidential elections. What is the situation with regard to the implementation of the Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework in the DRC and the Great Lakes.
Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology, Committee deliberation on the Science and Technology Laws Amendment (S&T) Bill.
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Stakeholder engagement on the Local Government: Municipal Systems Amendment Bill.
Select Committee on Trade and International Relations, Final mandates meeting on the National Credit Amendment Bill.
Select Committee on Trade and International Relations, Consideration of the Written Submissions on Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill
Select Committee on Security and Justice, Committee consideration of the Defence Amendment Bill
Thursday
Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings, Continuation of the: Sigogo Petition Hearing (Petition seeking the intervention of the NCOP, in relation to the alleged cover up by the Public Service Commission (PSC) regarding reported irregularities, maladministration, fraud, poor working conditions and victimization of employees within the Khayelitsha District Hospital.
For the latest full schedule of committee meetings (updated regularly), please click: https://www.parliament.gov.za/whatson
Enquiries:
Moloto Mothapo
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