Annual Constitutional Review Blog + Survey

CRC

Every year (excluding an election year), Parliament’s Joint Constitutional Review Committee must review the Constitution and report to the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces.

To enable the Committee to conduct its work, Parliament’s Joint Rule 102 empowers the Committee to do the following:

Identify specific constitutional matters ...

The Week Ahead: 25th anniversary of the Constitution.

25th anniverssary

There are a few weeks left until Parliament’s mid-year break.

In the remaining days, the legislative body is scheduled to consider and vote on several Bills, conduct important debates, appropriate funding, scrutinise government performance, oversee government’s COVID-19 response, consider statutory appointments and finalise assorted Committee Reports.

A major highlight this ...

Opinion: Courts and Constitution plug the gap left by lack of political accountability

By Firoz Cachalia

Some years ago I brought back from Siena copies of two famous frescoes painted by Lorenzetti depicting good and bad government. The first shows idyllic scenes of virtuous rulers, happy citizens and a prosperous society; the second shows dystopian scenes of selfish rule, injustice and famine, thus ...

Is SASSA ready to pay grants by 1 April?

Who will be responsible for making social grant payments from 1 April 2017? Will SASSA be ready to pay grants by 1 April?

hoog

The Black Sash, along with many other civil society organisations, hoped that the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) hearing on the Department of Social Development (DSD) ...

Don’t wait for a beautiful leader, South Africa. Rather rely on the Constitution

A new collection of legal and autobiographical writings by former Constitutional Court judge,Albie Sach, offers an intimate insider’s view of South Africa’s Constitution. Sachs, who lost his arm and his sight in one eye in a bomb attack by the apartheid regime in Maputo, was appointed by Nelson ...

PAIA has holes, but is not the only law giving access to information

BY RONÉE ROBINSON.

It is by now well established that the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) is the vehicle giving effect to the right of access to information, enshrined in section 32 of the constitution. This is an important right, albeit an importance easy to disrespect and disguise. ...

Infographic: Are we ready for the 2016 Municipal Elections?

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) met with the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs to present the Commission’s readiness for the upcoming 2016 Municipal Elections on Tuesday, 17 May 2016. The briefing covered the final wards delivered by the Municipal Demarcation Board, the number of voting districts, the voters roll and ...

The Week Ahead: President, Vuwani Protest & Legislation in the spotlight

The President's oral question session is the high point of the parliamentary week.

He is required to answers questions of national or international importance once per term in accordance with the annual parliamentary programme. The questions are sifted and published beforehand in a process involving the Speaker, to ensure that ...

OPINION: The election machinery picks up steam

By Judith February

Disclaimer: a full stadium does not necessarily translate into votes. This past weekend the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) put on what can only be described as a very impressive show. First to launch its manifesto was the ANC, followed by the DA. The latter fared ...

The Week Ahead: All out Action in the Committee Corridor

It's a low key week in the main chambers with no sittings scheduled. All the parliamentary action will take place in the committee corridor where the schedule is bursting.

The legislature’s budget vote season shows no sign of slowing down as most days are packed with long meetings as committees ...