Following last week’s presentation of the Medium Term Budget Statement (MTBPS), Parliament’s role in processing and approving the mini-budget kicks into gear this week. The adjustment process provides an opportunity to make revisions to the February budget, in response to changes that have affected the planned government spending for the year.
The Standing and Select Committees on Finance and Appropriations are central in coordinating Parliament’s response to government’s budget and revenue proposals. The Minister of Finance and his team will brief the joint committees on Tuesday. This meeting was originally scheduled for last Friday but was postponed after a request from the Minister. In addition, the Parliamentary Budget Office and the Financial and Fiscal Commission will provide advice and analysis to lawmakers on proposed amendments to the fiscal framework, the associated money Bills and policy proposals with budgetary implications.
Public hearings on the 2021 Revised Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals will be conducted virtually on Wednesday.
The mini-budget is processed in a prescribed manner and a set timeline set out in the Money Bills Act.
Tuesday’s Ministerial Briefing Session on School Dropout is a highlight on the NCOP’s programme. All nine Education MECs will present on provincial interventions to address school dropout, especially in the midst of COVID-19.
Statistics South Africa’s recent report - which indicated that there were 33 000 teen mothers in 2020, 660 of them younger than 10 years old - will be top of their mind when delegates debate Teenage Pregnancy on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Deputy President will have his final oral question session – for 2021 – in the NCOP. He will be probed on a variety of topics such as Eskom, service delivery and the Reconstruction and Recovery Plan.
The NA chamber has arranged 3 sittings this week.
On Tuesday, MPs will consider three bills: Second Special Appropriation Bill, Employment Equity Amendment Bill and the Sectional Titles Amendment Bill.
Question Time with select Ministers in the Economics cluster is the only chamber business on Wednesday.
Thursday’s plenary agenda has been earmarked for condolence motions for two late MPs and consideration of assorted committee reports.
The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy is conducting nation-wide public hearings on the Gas Amendment Bill. The second stop is Gauteng and hearings are scheduled for 20 and 21 November.
Meanwhile, public hearings on the Children’s Amendment Bill moves to KwaZulu-Natal from 20-23 November.
Beyond this, Parliament and the United Nations Children’s Fund will cohost a webinar on Monday to discuss the role of the Legislature in strengthening the national child rights governance system.
It's another big week in the virtual Committee corridor where lawmakers will be dealing with leftover Annual Reports, statutory appointments, legislative business and other oversight work. Here is a rundown of the highlights:
TUESDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2021
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Ministerial Briefing on the 2021 MTBPS], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance, Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by PBO and FFC on the 2021 MTBPS], Virtual Meeting Platform, Immediately after Plenary approx. 18:00
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, (National Assembly), [Consideration of Committee programme; Deliberations on the submissions received wrt the Copyright and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bills], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Finance and Fiscal Commission (FFC) on: Expenditure Patterns in respect of Infrastructure (ASIDI); Expenditure Patterns in respect of Conditional Grants (e.g. MST); and Equity in Education (including budget allocations to schools); Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on Audit Outcomes for the Department of Basic Education], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation, (National Assembly), [Progress report on associated Rooiwal challenges by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Water and Sanitation; Progress report on current interventions by the national Department of Water and Sanitation and Rand Water regarding associated challenges in respect of the Vaal River System], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Communications: Subcommittee on ICASA Council, (National Assembly), [Interviews of candidates shortlisted to fill four vacancies in the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) Council], Virtual Meeting Platform, 16:00-22:00
Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by Department of Employment and Labour on Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill [B 21B – 2020] (s75) (COIDA) and Employment Equity Amendment Bill [B 14B—2020] (s75)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 16:00-19:00
WEDNESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2021
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, (National Assembly), [Consideration of the Expropriation Bill public participation reports], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-11:00
Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by National Treasury on the following: 2021 Division of Revenue Amendment Bill; 2021 Adjustments Appropriation Bill; and Second quarter expenditure report for the 2021/22 financial year], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Interviews: Information Regulator], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-18:00
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Public hearing on the Revised Fiscal Framework], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Consideration of the 2020/21 Annual Report of the Civilian Secretariat for Police: Financial statements and performance; Consideration of the 2020/21 Annual Report of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID): Financial statements and performance], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-14:00
Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Update briefing by Special Investigating Unit regarding investigations related to Unemployment Insurance Fund TERS paid during COVID-19], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Eskom on the annual report and financial statements for 2020/21], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
Select Committee on Public Enterprises and Communications, (National Council of Provinces), [A briefing by SABC in stabilizing and/or resolving the national broadcasters’ financial (money owed to creditors, unpaid licence fees by the public) and operational (reducing the cost structure or staff retrenchments) challenges in order to turn the company into a sustainable business entity], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
THURSDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2021
Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of provinces), [Briefing by the Office of the Military Ombud on its 2020 Annual activity Report; Update on all investigations conducted by the Military Ombud for the 2020 and 2021 calendar years], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00
FRIDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2021
Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Response by National Treasury on submissions made in the public hearing on 2021 Revised Fiscal Framework], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing by SIU on 2020/21 Annual Report, performance and spending 2021/22 to date and forward funding needs 2022 MTEF], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing the draft regulations to the Financial Management of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act; Consideration of committee minutes: 10 November 2021], Virtual Meeting Platform, 13:00-15:00
Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your 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?
View the schedule page 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.
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