This week marks the mid-way point of the third term and the programme has a familiar pattern: lots of unglamorous legislating, oversight and scrutinising, with some set piece battles in prospect.
Fireworks are expected during the debate on the parliamentary ad hoc committee report on the Nkandla upgrades. MPs visited ...
There's both high policy and low politics on display in the main chambers this week. The National Assembly offers a blend of members' statements, a discussion of national importance, legislative business and oral questions to the Deputy President and Peace and Security Cluster. The programme is a bit more pedestrian ...
There is some very significant Committee action this week that will keep the legislature firmly in the spotlight. Regrettably, this means there will also be plenty of opportunity for posturing and point scoring as political parties try to attract publicity and out manoeuvre each other.
The parliamentary ad hoc committee ...
Parliament resumes this week after a three-week constituency period. The third term will run for ten weeks and the programme is packed with activities. Some of the highlights include committee, oversight and legislative work; oral questions to the President and the Executive; and the NCOP’s Provincial and Local Government Weeks. ...
On 23 June 2015, Parliament's National Assembly Rules Committee met to discuss the frequent disruptions of the House sittings. A lengthy discussion was held and members of the committee considered draft rules and standard operating procedures presented by the Subcommittee on the Review of the NA Rules. With the exception ...
It's a week of farewells, loose ends and tussles…
The constituency period beckons, with MPs due to depart at the end of the week and return to Parliament on 21 July 2015. But a fair amount of heavy-duty business will be done before they go.
It's a big week in ...
Parliament is required to represent the people and to ensure government by the people under the Constitution. It does so by choosing the president, by providing a national forum for public consideration of issues, by passing legislation and by scrutinising and overseeing executive action.
Parliament’s oversight of the executive is ...
MPs will be relieved that the grueling budget vote schedule is nearing the end. This process began in February with the training of MPs on the processing of the budget votes and was followed by committees meeting with various departments and entities on their strategic plans, annual performance plans and ...
On Wednesday, 20 May 2015, the South African Police Service (SAPS) briefed the Police Portfolio Committee on progress made on the implementation of the Child Justice Act. Since the implementation of the legislation, the number of children charged for crimes has been on a downward trajectory. The Act looks toward ...
This is a week for detailed law-making, with issues ranging from maintenance, to freedom of expression, to land expropriation, to trade union accountability and decriminalising consensual sex between children of certain ages.
Beyond this, the legislature’s budget vote season doesn’t show any sign of slowing down as most days are ...