The week ahead - The end of the Fourth Parliament

The Fourth Parliament draws to an end this week. While the National Assembly (NA) concluded its work two weeks ago, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) continued to sit in order to finalise the many pieces of legislations referred to it for concurrence.

The main legislative highlight this week is the passing of all outstanding bills. These include:

• 2014 Division of Revenue Bill
• Mineral Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill [B15B-2013]
• Infrastructure Development Bill [B49B-2013]
• State Attorney Amendment Bill [B52B – 2013]
• Rental Housing Amendment Bill [B56B-2013]
• Restitution of Land Rights Amendment Bill [B35-2013]
• National Environmental Management Laws Third Amendment Bill [B26B-2013]
• National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Bill [B32B-2013]
• Property Valuations Bill [B54B-2013]
• Financial Management of Parliament Amendment Bill [B1B-2014]
• National Credit Amendment Bill [B47B-2013]
• Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill [B50B-2013]

The NCOP will host a Roundtable on Empowerment and Rights of Women, Children and the Elderly on Tuesday, 25 March. According to the organisers “the roundtable discussions aims to bring together academics, government leaders and civil society organisations with a view to reflect on the exercise of overseeing the protection and advancement of the rights of women, children and the elderly”.

A key recommendation contained in the Public Protector's report into President Jacob Zuma's Nkandla residence is that he must report to Parliament within two weeks for violating the Executive Ethics Code. In addition, the DA has stated that it has plans to initiate impeachment proceedings against the President. Both these scenarios mean that there is a possibility that Parliament will be reconvened before the elections. There is no threat as to whether this is possible as the Constitution stipulates that the National Assembly continues to function from the time that its term expires until the day before the general election, or the first day of voting in such a general election.