Happening in Parliament this week
President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the hybrid Joint Sitting of the two Houses on Thursday at 19:00 to deliver the State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Cape Town City Hall. The address provides the President with an opportunity to assess South Africa’s domestic and international situation, report on existing government programmes and present plans for the coming year.
Next week, Parliament will also provide a public forum to discuss the President’s State of the Nation Address when Members of Parliament debate the address at hybrid joint sittings of the two Houses of Parliament on 14 and 15 February and when the President replies this debate on 16 February.
This is the first time that SONA is being held outside of the regular precincts of Parliament.
On Tuesday morning, the Presiding Officers of Parliament will communicate to the media and the public Parliament's readiness to host SONA 2022 at a media briefing.
There are 25 committee meetings scheduled for this week to deal with various legislation and provide updates on the implementation of service delivery targets as outlined below:
Tuesday, 8 February
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Briefing by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA);
Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour: Briefing by the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) on the Performance in Q1 (2021/22) of Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF);
Standing Committee on Finance: Briefing by the Minister of Finance on Audit Action Plans for the Finance Portfolio, with specific reference to entities with weaknesses identified by the AG.
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: Briefing by the Minister of Home Affairs on the Electoral Amendment Bill;
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Briefing by South African Tourism (SAT) on First and Second Quarter Performance Report of 2021/22 financial year;
Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture: Briefing by the Cricket SA on allegations of mismanagement and an update on the Social and Nation Building Report; Consideration and adoption of the Committee programme;
Joint Meeting - Standing Committee on Appropriations and Portfolio Committee on Transport: Briefing by National Treasury, Department of Transport and identified municipalities on the performance and expenditure of the Integrated Public Transport Network.
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, Strategic Planning Session (Part 1): Presentation by the Executive Authority: strategic direction of Parliament for the sixth Parliament and beyond. Presentation by the Accounting Officer/acting Secretary to Parliament: alignment of the strategic plan of Parliament with its constitutional mandate, key issues, outcomes-oriented goals.
Portfolio Committee on Health, National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) Public Hearings.
Wednesday, 9 February
Standing Committee on Finance: Briefing by National Treasury and SARS on the Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies Bill and the Financial Sector and Deposit Insurance Levies (Administration) and Deposit Insurance Premiums Bill;
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation: Briefing by the Central University of Technology (CUT) on governance, teaching and learning and related matters;
Portfolio Committee on Health: National Health Insurance Bill (NHI) Public Hearings;
Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure: Briefing by the Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) on its Annual Report 2020/21;
Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, Interviews for the Inspector-General of Intelligence
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, Strategic Planning Session (Part 2): Presentation of critical issues covered in the Strategic Plan.
Friday, 11 February
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation: Briefing by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on Annual Report 2020/21; Briefing by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and TIA on outcomes concerning the TIA Institutional Review.
Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: The committee will deliberate on the Bills and processing thereof and a briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Services on the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill.
For the latest full schedule of Committee meetings (updated regularly), please visit:
www.parliament.gov.za
Enquiries:
Moloto Mothapo – 082 370 6930
