This week in Parliament: Range of issues affecting society, debate on Human Rights Day and the president’s oral reply to questions among items on the programme
A wide range of issues affecting society, a debate about Human Rights Day and President Jacob Zuma answering questions for oral reply are among the items on Parliament’s agenda this week.
Tomorrow, the National Assembly (NA), after Members’ statements, considers the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, considers 12 reports from committees and also holds a debate for 85 minutes on human rights in the South African context.
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP), after motions, considers reports from two of its committees and debates World Consumer Day. The theme for the debate is “advancing our national resolve to protecting the social and economic welfare of consumers”.
On Wednesday, the NA considers the Division of Revenue Bill and seven committee reports, including the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence report about a candidate nominated for appointment as Inspector-General of Intelligence.
On Thursday, President Zuma answers questions from NA Members for oral reply, while the NCOP debates Human Rights Day.
The 43 scheduled committee meetings this week will deal, among others, with:
Draft legislation
1. Consideration of Children’s Amendment Bill (Tuesday, Portfolio Committee on Social Development)
2. Update on Remote Gambling Bill process (Tuesday, Portfolio Committee Trade and Industry)
3. Final amendments to the Higher Education Amendment Bill (Tuesday, Portfolio Committee on Higher Education)
4. Deliberations on Financial Intelligence Centre Amendment Bill (Tuesday and Wednesday, Standing Committee on Finance)
Oversight visits
1. The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training is scheduled to visit the University of Stellenbosch on Wednesday
Specific issues for Committee consideration
1. Broadband rollout (Tuesday, briefing from Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services to Portfolio Committee on Telecommunications and Postal Services)
2. The Department of Basic Education’s 3-stream Model, 2nd Chance Matric Programme and Operation Phakisa (Tuesday, briefing from Basic Education Department to Portfolio Committee on Basic Education)
3. The state of the Department of Correctional Services (Tuesday, briefing from Minister of Justice and Correctional Services to Standing Committee on Public Accounts)
4. Outcome of investigation on collusion in construction industry (Tuesday, Portfolio Committee on Public Works meets with Council for the Built Environment, the Construction Industry Development Board and the Competition Commission)
5. Women and decision making (Tuesday, briefing from Department of Public Service and Administration and Public Service Commission to Portfolio Committee on Women in the Presidency)
6. Update on preparation of Banyana Banyana and under 23 football team for Rio 2016 (Tuesday, SA Football Association briefing to Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation)
7. Implementation of Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s rolling stock fleet renewal programme (Tuesday, PRASA update to Portfolio Committee on Transport)
8. Update on Grand Inga Project a hydropower scheme located on the Congo River (Tuesday, briefing from the Department of Energy to the Portfolio Committee on Energy)
9. Burden of health and disease in South Africa (Tuesday, briefing from Medical Research Council to Select Committee on Social Services)
10. Work of the research unit in the South African Police Service (Tuesday, Civilian Secretariat of the SAPS briefs Portfolio Committee on Police)
11. Draft revised rules of procedure for application to court in terms of Promotion of Access to Information Act of 2000 (Tuesday, Department of Justice and Correctional Services briefs Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services)
12. Petitions from the Oudtshoorn Ratepayers’ Association and Love Knysna (Wednesday, continuation of hearings in Select Committee on Petitions and Executive Undertakings on the petitions on alleged unlawful and unregulated establishment of a private commercial flight training school in the Oudtshoorn Local Municipality and alleged maladministration, fraud and financial irregularities in the Knysna Local Municipality)
13. Drought issues and climate change interventions (Wednesday, Departments of Water and Sanitation and Environmental Affairs brief Portfolio Committee on Water)
14. Overview of Indigenous Knowledge Systems and legislative development on these (Wednesday, Department of Science and Technology briefs Portfolio Committee on Science and Technology)
15. South Africa’s Foreign Policy White Paper, Foreign Service Bill and work of South African Council on International Relations and the South African Association of Former Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Chief Representatives (Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation briefs Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation on White Paper and bill. The Council and the Association briefs the committee on their areas of responsibility)
16. Promoting localisation, beneficiation and support to small and medium enterprises (Wednesday, Department of Trade and Industry, Eskom and Transnet briefs the Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises)
17. Status quo of Agri Parks in each province (Wednesday, Portfolio Committee of Rural Development and Land Reform)
18. Launch of municipal Multi-party Women’s Caucus to ensure 50/50 representation in local government elections (Wednesday, SALGA Women Commission to National Assembly and National Council of Provinces Multi-party Women’s Caucus)
Meetings with a visiting New Zealand Parliamentary delegation are scheduled with the Portfolio Committee on Health on Wednesday and with the Portfolio Committees on Basic Education and Higher Education and Training on Thursday.
The Portfolio Committees on Home Affairs; Human Settlements; Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Small Business Development; Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Communications; Economic Development; Labour; Rural Development and Land Reform, the Standing Committee on Auditor General; the Select Committee on Communications and Public Enterprises and the Select Committee on Land and Mineral Resources will also receive briefings on the annual performance plans, financial statements, budget and strategic plans from departments and state entities which account to them.
Strategic planning sessions are scheduled for the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and the Portfolio Committee on Police.
Members embark on a constituency period from 22 March to 11 April. During constituency periods MPs have a duty to be available to the public, help solve problems and report back to their constituents on what is happening in Parliament.
