This Week in Parliament: SONA Debates

The main highlight is the joint debate on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday and Tuesday as well as the President’s response to the debate on Wednesday.

These sessions will take place at the Cape Town City Hall and once concluded, all parliamentary business will return to the precinct on Plein Street. The Good Hope Chamber has been selected as the alternative venue for National Assembly sittings following last month’s fires.

This occasion is a highlight on the parliamentary calendar as all party leaders and a galaxy of heavyweight MPs take part.

The debate follows a predictable path: the opposition is critical of the President and governing party for presenting a wish list and failing to deliver on past SONA promises. In return, the governing party defends the President, government's record and proposals and points out weaknesses in the opposition.

Further, the debate is punctuated by jibes, rhetoric, heckling and points of orders. Many of the speeches tend to depart from the purpose of the debate and at times, it can resemble a Comedy Central roast as speaker after speaker bear their political fangs.

Opposition parties have already expressed mixed reactions with some welcoming parts of the speech and others lamenting that it was a disappointment and more of the same. SONA will also feature in the Committee Corridor as several committees discuss its impact and implications on their respective portfolio.

At the time of writing, SCOPA’s meeting to discuss the President’s written response to allegations on the misuse of public funds had not been scheduled. According to a media statement, this meeting will take place on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the African Trasnformation Movement (ATM) has indicated that the Speaker of the National Assembly will respond to its request this week for a motion of no confidence in the President of the Republic to be conducted by way of a secret ballot.

The week rounds off with two report-back sessions on the 2021 Women's Charter for Accelerated Development programme.

There is a mixture of routine and important business in Committee-land. Here is a run-down of some of the most interesting meetings:

TUESDAY, 15 FEBRUARY 2022

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Mutual Evaluation Report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) on the First, Second and Third Quarter Performance and Expenditure Reports for 2021-22. Briefing by the Researcher and the Content on the impact of the State of National Address (SONA) on the work of the Committee and the programmes of the Department of Home Affairs], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Tourism, (National Assembly), [Analysis of the 2022 State of the Nation Address (SoNA) – lifting and processing issues emanating from SoNA as related to tourism sector] Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Health, (National Assembly), [NHI Public Hearings], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the DTIC on the Equity Equivalent Investment Programme as well as on the B-BBEE Commission’s activities over the 2020/21 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing on the implementation of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act], Virtual meeting Platform, 09:30

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Planning Session on the BELA Bill] Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the National Prosecuting Authority on cases referred to it by the Special Investigating Unit], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

WEDNESDAY, 16 FEBRUARY 2022

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Nedlac and the BBBEE Commission on Transformation in the Financial Sector and update on the Financial Sector Summit], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Office of the Chief Procurement Officer on requests for contract deviations and expansions for the third quarter of the 2021/22 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Introduction of the Criminal Law (Forensic Procedure Amendment Bill [B25 – 2021] by the CSPS; Consideration of underspending by SAPS], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Electoral Commission (IEC) on the report of 2021 Local Government Elections], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Health, (National Assembly), [NHI Public Hearings; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00**

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements**, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General on the First Special Report of the Auditor-General on the Financial Management of Government’s Covid-19 Initiatives [RP 294 – 2020]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Professor Ann Skelton on the legal interpretation and application of the age majority. Drawing from international, regional and local legislative framework; Presentation by the Content advisor on the key issues that emanated from the provincial public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill; Consideration and adoption of the draft reports on provincial public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill; Adoption of the committee programme; Adoption of minutes]; Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing on the Inter-departmental annual reports on the implementation of the Child Justice Act], Virtual meeting Platform, 09:30

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Follow up meeting with Transnet, regarding the annual report presentation and a briefing on the private participation model; Consideration and adoption of minutes; Consideration and adoption of first term programme], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

THURSDAY, 17 FEBRUARY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Sub-Committee Meeting, (National Assembly), [Interviews for filling of vacancies of Commissioners for the Public Service Commission], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-16:30

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Processing of draft regulations of Parliament made under section 65(1) and in compliance with the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act (Act No 10 of 2009)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 13:00-16:00 Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Minister on the Forensic Report on 1 Military Hospital and related matters; Review of Annual Performance Plan of Committee; Briefing by the DOD on the fire that took place at Waterkloof Airforce Base; Consideration of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2022

Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Sub-Committee Meeting, (National Assembly), [Interviews for filling of vacancies of Commissioners for the Public Service Commission], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-16:30

Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, (National Assembly), [Discussion on the status of Waste Management in South Africa: Roles in and Responsibilities for Waste Management (national, provincial and local governments; private and informal sectors; and civil society role & responsibility); and Challenges, opportunities and the way forward for optimizing sustainable waste management], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-17:00

Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your thoughts on the ground experience and expert information to the relevant committees. Critically, what questions should MPs pose to the Executive as they conduct their oversight work? Write to a Parliamentary Committee

View the schedule page here

You can also view the Provincial legislature programme here.

*This summary is based on the schedule as it is published on Monday morning. The programme is subject to frequent updating so the link above needs to be checked daily to confirm the programme for the day.