President Zuma’s programme always includes parliamentary work
The Presidency has noted discussions around President Jacob Zuma’s programme and parliamentary work.
We wish to reiterate that although the President is not a Member of Parliament, his annual calendar always includes parliamentary work and that has been the case since his first term in 2009.
The annual calendar of the President includes the following:
- Joint Sittings of Parliament, for example to deliver the State of the Nation Address as will happen on 12 February 2015, and the debate thereof;
- Budget speeches in February and October by the Minister of Finance;
- The Budget Vote Debate of the Presidency;
- Oral Questions in the National Assembly four times a year;
- Oral Questions in the National Council of Provinces once a year;
- Delivery of the annual address to the National Council of Provinces in November of each year and the debate thereof; and
- Questions for Written Reply which are responded to whenever sent by Members of Parliament during the year.
The President also opens the National House of Traditional Leaders and attends the debate thereof in March each year.
President Zuma is also at times invited to attend special debates in the National Assembly.
Other core and critical components of the President’s calendar, which The Presidency is finalizing currently, comprise the following:
- Cabinet meetings;
- Cabinet committees;
- Meetings with Statutory bodies such as the Black Economic Empowerment Advisory Council; National Orders Advisory Council; President’s Coordinating Council, in which the President meets with Premiers and the South African Local Government Association; the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission; the Presidential Working Groups, which have been expanded to include media, religious sector, youth, women, higher education, persons with disabilities and Brand South Africa among others.
- International engagements including annual summits such as those of the United Nations General Assembly, African Union, Southern African Development Community, G20, BRICS, incoming and outgoing State and Working Visits and ad-hoc Summits and engagements.
- Community engagement programmes such as Izimbizo and the Siyahlola Presidential monitoring programme.
- Philanthropic work through Trusts and Foundations.
- Programme of the governing party the ANC.
The date for the first quarter oral question time will be finalised with the National Assembly in due course and will be communicated publicly as part of the President’s programme that is released to the media regularly.
Enquiries:
Mac Maharaj
Cell: 079 879 3203
E-mail: macmaharaj@icloud.com
