Happening at Parliament this week
Public hearings on the National Health Insurance (NHI) and various Members’ training workshops will kick off Parliament’s hectic programme for the first term of 2020 which includes hosting the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech (both in February) and Taking Parliament to the People (in March).
Members are returning from a six-week constituency work and leave period to this week’s programme that starts with the public hearings on the NHI tomorrow, a one-day training workshop for permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, an Introductory Workshop for the Parliamentary Group on International Relations (PGIR) on Wednesday and a two-day media training workshop for Chairpersons of Committees starting on Thursday.
The Portfolio Committee on Health will resume its public hearings on the NHI this week by visiting the Free State and North West. The Free State hearings will start in Mangaung Metro on Monday, then Fezile Dabi District on Wednesday while the North West leg will start in Bojanala District on Thursday followed by the Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District on Friday ending in Dr Kenneth Kaunda District on Saturday.
The NCOP will, on Tuesday 28 January, hold training for permanent delegates to the House covering the processing of Money Bills, the Mandating Procedures of Provincial Legislatures Act, Obtaining Mandates, and the Parameters of Voting amongst others. The NCOP has a different oversight role from that of the National Assembly. Section 42 (4) mandates the NCOP to ensure that provincial interests are taken into account in the national sphere of government.
The PGIR is a mutli-party, strategic structure that is responsible for amongst others, providing policy direction on international relations matters and ensures the implementation of Parliament’s agreed international relations policy. Wednesday’s introductory workshop for the PGIR will equip its members with necessary skills to perform their legislative and oversight duties.
The media training workshop for Chairpersons of Committees is intended to enhance public communications by parliamentary committees.
