The Week Ahead: End of Term for NA, Youth Day Debate

The constituency period beckons, with MPs in the National Assembly due to depart mid-week and return to Parliament on 15 August 2022.

Meanwhile, the NCOP’s second term will run until 24 June.

Even with a public holiday to compress the parliamentary week, there is a fair bit of action packed into the available three days.

The NA chamber has arranged a varied agenda. Highlights include the budget, legislative business, statutory appointments, a debate of national importance and a Youth Day debate.

The National Assembly will conclude its budget process during Tuesday’s marathon sitting when it considers the Appropriation Bill including accompanying votes and schedules and the Second Adjustment Appropriations Bill. In addition, the House will consider a recommendation to approve the nomination of Mr VG Mashinini for appointment to fill the vacancy in the Electoral Commission.

Wednesday’s plenary programme is divided into two parts. In the morning, the annual debate to commemorate Youth Day will take place. The theme this year is: Promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilience of young people in South Africa for a better tomorrow. As has become the norm, the debate will be headlined by young MPs who will reflect on issues affecting young people. Education, unemployment, and violence are some of the major issues that are expected to be touched on.

In the afternoon session, the urgent debate on the fuel hike will get a lot of attention. The debate is sponsored by DA MP, Kevin Mileham. The DA is calling for the introduction of urgent legislation to immediately deregulate and reduce the fuel price.

At the same sitting, legislators will consider two appointments: Inspector-General of Intelligence Services and Chairperson of Board of National Lotteries Commission. The former is noteworthy as at least two-thirds of MPs need to approve the nominated candidate. Elsewhere, the NCOP will also sit for two days.

On Tuesday, it prioritised two policy debates (Basic Education and Social Development) as well as assorted Committee Reports.

Wednesday’s agenda includes legislation, a policy debate (Employment and Labour) and a Youth Day debate.

The National Assembly mandated the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour and the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to conduct comprehensive oversight work on the living and working conditions of farm workers, farm dwellers and farmers. In undertaking this work, the committees scheduled a programme of oversight visits across the country. At the time of writing, the committees are set to visit Limpopo and Free State from 17 to 19 June. View more here.

Here is a rundown of the highlights in the Committee Corridor:

TUESDAY, 14 JUNE 2022

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Further responses by the Electoral Commission on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B 1 – 2022]; Inputs by the Parliament Legal Services on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B1 – 2022]; Further Committee deliberations on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B1 – 2022]; Consideration and adoption of the Committee’s Annual Business Plan], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-10:00

Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Department on an update on: (i) the vetting of SABC Executives, (ii) progress towards implementation of controls to improve audit findings of the portfolio, (iii) progress towards the recapitalisation of State entities, (iv) merger of regulatory authorities, (v) Plan of Action on the forming of a State Digital Company, Briefing by SABC on the status for the implementation of the ‘Turnaround Strategy’; Consideration of Legal Opinion on referral of the Public Protector Report 114 of 2021/22 and the referral Public Protector Report 113 of 2021/22; Adoption of the Report on the Annual Report of SAPO 2020-21], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the DTIC and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) on the progress and challenges in implementing the Black Industrialist Programme and uplifting of companies owned by women, youth entrepreneurs particularly those operating in targeted industries and Special Economic Zones (SEZ) towards promotion of localisation in product development and trade. The presentation should highlight the challenges of specific SEZs and the geographic spread of these programmes across all Provinces], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Health and Social Services, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by STATS SA: Plans for the current financial year, and the Census update report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-12:30

WEDNESDAY, 15 JUNE 2022

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on the Auditor-General, Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Tabling of Local Government Audit Outcomes for 2020/21 financial year by the Auditor-General of South Africa. Due to the confidential nature of the audit outcomes, there are no documents to share prior to the meeting.], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [SAPS Disciplined Management], Virtual Meeting, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the A list (clause by clause) of the Children’s Amendment Bill [B18 – 2020]; Consideration and adoption of the Motion of Desirability on the Fund Raising Amendment Bill [B29 – 2020]], Virtual Platform, 09:30-14:30

Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Essential Services Committee on its proposals to the legislature on improving essential services legislation in South Africa], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

Portfolio Committee on Health, (National Assembly), [Clause by clause deliberations on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Multi-Party Women’s Caucus (Steering Committee), [MPWC Action Plan on GBVF: Interaction with provincial multi-party women’s caucuses, and other stakeholders on focus areas for Free State and Gauteng provincial oversight visits], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00

The upcoming constituency period is an extended one. During this period, MPs have a duty to: be available to the public, help solve problems and report back to their constituents on what is happening in Parliament.

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. View the Provincial Legislature's schedule 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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