Oversight Activities, Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and International Parliamentary Engagements Among Highlights for Third Term of 2014
Oversight activities, the tabling of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and international Parliamentary conferences are among the highlights of the third term of the fifth democratic Parliament for 2014, which starts next week and ends on 28 November.
These activities include the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Oversight Week from 21 to 24 October. This is a time when NCOP committees can focus more intensively on oversight, by visiting communities and projects to evaluate progress.
On 22 October, Minister of Finance Mr Nhlanhla Nene will table the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and Adjustments Budget in the National Assembly (NA). As is usually the case, the NA will consider reports on the Revised Fiscal Framework, the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and the Adjustments Appropriation Bill.
A debate on the Statement, followed by consideration of Budget Votes and adjustments in terms of the Adjustments Appropriations Bill is also expected.
On 6 November, President Jacob Zuma is scheduled to deliver his annual address to the NCOP and Members will have the opportunity to respond to his address.
Questions to the Executive are scheduled to take place four times in the NA and three times in the NCOP. In the NCOP the Deputy President answers questions on 28 October and Ministers in the Economics Cluster do so on 11 and 13 November. In the NA, Ministers in the Economics Cluster answer Members’ questions on 29 October, the Deputy President does so on 5 November and so do Ministers in the Peace and Security Cluster, on 12 November Ministers in the Social Services cluster answer and on 19 November the Deputy President appears again, followed on the same day by Ministers in the Governance cluster.
Two key international Parliamentary conferences take place in October. First is the 60th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from 2 to 10 October in the Cameroon capital Yaoundé. The NCOP Deputy Chairperson, Mr Raseriti Tau, is leading a multiparty delegation of six Members from both Houses to the conference. Then, from 12 to 16 October, comes the 131st Inter Parliamentary Union Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The NA Speaker, Ms Baleka Mbete, will lead the nine-member multiparty delegation to this conference.
Meanwhile, tomorrow the Powers and Privileges cCommittee is scheduled to begin its inquiry into the conduct of 20 Members whose activities on 21 August resulted in the NA sitting having to be adjourned before completing its scheduled business for the day. On Thursday, the Ad Hoc Committee to Consider the Report by the President regarding the security upgrades at his Nkandla Private Residence is scheduled to formulate its draft report to the NA.
