The Week Ahead: #MTBPS2022

All eyes will be on the Minister of Finance when he presents the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday. The MTBPS outlines the economic context against which the 2023 budget is being formulated and sets out the spending framework for the next three years.

In addition, the mini-budget gives an update on tax collection, government spending and deficits, economic growth targets and signals whether the country is still on track to meet plans laid out in the February budget. Further, it gives the government a chance to reprioritise spending to areas that may urgently need more money.

The Minister has a tough job to do as he seeks to stimulate the economy, contain expenditure, stabilise debt, maintain the government’s social spending and intensify its infrastructure programmes.

All of this must be achieved against a backdrop of loadshedding, low growth, high unemployment, increasing government debt to GDP, failing SOEs, corruption, a growing public sector wage bill, extreme inequality, spending cuts and growing pressure from the public. In addition, structural reforms are needed in electricity, rail, ports and telecommunications. Various stakeholders – political parties, trade unions, business, credit rating agencies, investors, international monetary bodies, civil society and the public – will be keeping a close eye to see what interventions, support, trade-offs, tax proposals and tax relief are made. The MTBPS will be accompanied by the introduction of several bills: the Adjustments Appropriation Bill, Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendments of Revenue Laws Bill, Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill. The Minister is also expected to table a Special Appropriation Bill. The Minister will deliver the MTBPS at the Cape Town City Hall.

In addition, the National Assembly has arranged two more plenary sitting days. On Tuesday, lawmakers will consider the National Land Transport Amendment Bill and assorted Committee Reports. On Thursday, select Ministers in the Peace and Security cluster will be probed on a range of issues during their Oral Question session on Thursday. Elsewhere, NCOP delegates will have an opportunity to interrogate select Ministers in the social services cluster on Tuesday. Beyond this, they will meet on Thursday to debate water infrastructure, and consider the Sectional Titles Amendment Bill as well as various international instruments.

A multi-party delegation will take part the in First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Pan-African Parliament from 24 October until 12 November 2022.

Last Saturday, President Cyril Ramaphosa submitted the #StateCaptureInquiry report implementation plan. The Commission made 358 recommendations. In a media statement, Parliament said: “With the submission of the implementation plan by the President yesterday, which outlines how the Executive will fulfil the remedial actions recommended by the Commission, Parliament will begin a process of scrutinising the details of the plan as well as overseeing, through its oversight instruments, its implementation. The implementation plan will be brought to the attention of the Members of Parliament”.

Legislation, the section 194 inquiry, oversight, Budgetary Review and Recommendations Reports and statutory appointments are the main highlights in the committee corridor:

TUESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2022

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Discussion and adoption of the Traditional Affairs General Amendment Bill [B16-2022] and the Makana oversight visit report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Public hearings on the SA Postbank Limited Amendment Bill [B 22-2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Briefing on Examinations-Readiness for 2022 (An Updated Status Report) by: Department of Basic Education (DBE); and Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training (Umalusi)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00

Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Council of Provinces), [The Department’s (DALRRD) approach towards the second round of land claims considering the lapsing of the Restitution of Land Rights Bill (B19 of 2017) and the failure to adopt the Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, which aimed to amend section 25 of the Constitution. Of special interest is the manner in which the Department is communicating the way forward and impact of these events to land claimants who submitted claims in the second window], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [10:00-13:00: Workshop on Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B 24D – 2016]; 13:30-17:00: Briefing by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B 24D – 2016] and Copyright Amendment Bill [B 13D – 2017]; Introduction of NCOP Legislative Programme], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-17:00

WEDNESDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2022

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the Older Persons Amendment Bill [B11 -2022], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-12:30

Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of Committee’s report on the filling of vacancies in the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE)], Venue: Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Health, (National Assembly), [Clause by clause deliberations on the National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill], Committee Room S12A/Hybrid, 10:00-13:00

THURSDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2022

Committee for Section 194 Enquiry, (National Assembly), [Consideration of Adjournment Application by the Public Protector; Consideration of the revised Committee programme (if adjournment on granted); Ms Nelisiwe Thejane to appear before the Committee for cross-examination by the Public Protector legal team (if adjournment not granted); and Mr Cornelius van der Merwe to appear before the Committee (if adjournment not granted)], Hybrid (Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building and Virtual Meeting Platform), 10:00-17:00

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 the Minister of Finance on the 2022 MTBPS], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30-15:00

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the SA Military Health Services (SAMHS) on the challenges with regard to the provision of medical services in all its military health facilities including patient load and costs of outsourcing], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2022

Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Response by National Treasury to further submissions received on the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combatting Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill [B18-2022] (“General Laws Bill”)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, (National Assembly), [Preparations for UNFCCC COP27 conference; Oral submissions on Climate Change Bill [B9-2022)]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-17:00

Committee for Section 194 Enquiry, (National Assembly), [Mr Cornelius van der Merwe to appear before the Committee (if adjournment not granted)], Hybrid (Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building and Virtual Meeting Platform), 10:00-17:00

Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Restoration of Parliament buildings affected by Jan 2022 fire: update by Executive Authority & the Secretary to Parliament; Briefing on Parliament’s revised 2022/23 budget; Briefing on Parliament’s 2023/24 draft annual performance plan and budget], Virtual Meeting Platform, 12:30-15:00

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. 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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