The Week Ahead: Municipal Matters & Men’s Parliament

Parliament, in partnership with the South African National Aids Council, will host a two-day National Men’s Parliament today and on Tuesday, 22 November under the theme: “Takuwani Riime! Institutionalising a Responsive Men’s Movement.” This third biennial sectoral Parliament, convened under the banner of the Takuwani Riime Men’s Movement, is a platform for men to discuss challenges faced by men with a special focus on the prevention of Gender Based Violence & Femicide and other social ills and tackling the spread of HIV/AIDS & TB.

In 2017, the Men's Parliament resolved that its sittings will take place every two years at national level, annually at the provincial level, every six months at the district level, every three months at the local level and daily, weekly and monthly at ward and street levels. Men are now talking about the problems of absent fathers and their impact on families and the need to impart values. These campaigns will help nurture young boys to become better citizens that uphold the Constitution.

See event programme.

On Tuesday, National Assembly lawmakers will consider the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill. The same House sitting will also consider the candidates for filling vacancies in the Commission for Gender Equality and also consider Budget Review and Recommendations reports of various portfolio committees.

On the same day, the NCOP will hold a debate on the killing of councillors under the theme: Waging a concerted battle against the killing of councillors. Political violence has become both an urgent challenge and a special problem in South Africa. Addressing the SALGA Council of Mayors in September, the President said: “we have seen a deeply disturbing trend of attacks on councillors and municipal administrators. I am told that more than 300 councillors have been killed in the past few years by virtue of being councillors”. The House will also consider the Children’s Amendment Bill.

On Wednesday, the NA’s hybrid plenary sitting is scheduled to feature an oral questions session with five Economics Cluster Ministers. Everything from specific programmes to big-picture policy to bread-and-butter issues and performance will be under the microscope. View the Questions here.

NCOP delegates will debate the State of Municipal Infrastructure under the theme: Debate on the State of Municipal Infrastructure: Building a viable Municipal Infrastructure Network for Effective and Efficient delivery of services to Communities. The dismal state of municipalities has been well-documented by the Auditor-General and has been a big talking point among investors, analysts, and the general public.

Thursday’s NA plenary agenda is pedestrian, with lawmakers considering multiple Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports.

On Thursday and Friday, the NCOP will host a Policy Implementation and Legislative Review Summit under the theme: Assessing Progress Made in implementing the Developmental Agenda - Accelerating Implementation of the NDP (Vision 2030).

See the full Plenary Programme.

Public Hearings on the Railway Safety Bill [B7-2021] move to Mpumalanga from 25 - 27 November 2022. Also, the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries will conduct an oversight to “Knoflokskraal” site in the Grabouw plantation on 25 November.

It's another big week in the virtual Committee corridor where lawmakers will be dealing with Annual Reports, statutory appointments, legislative business and other oversight work. 44 committee meetings are scheduled this week.

MONDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2022

Select Committee on Security and Justice, (National Council of Provinces), [Committee deliberation on the Electoral Amendment Bill [B 1B – 2022] (S75)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of negotiating mandates on Division of Revenue Amendment Bill [B22-2022]; Consideration of draft Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 16:00

TUESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2022

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the National Disaster Management Centre on the 2022 Adjustments Appropriation Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Tourism, (National Assembly), [Briefing by South African Tourism (SAT) on the following matters: First and Second Quarter Performance Report of 2022/23 financial year; International work done by Ministry, Department and South African Tourism; The process of merger of SA Tourism and Brand South Africa; Introduction of the new Board of South African Tourism and the process followed; and Timeframes on the policy review process and reasons for the delays; Consideration of draft minutes], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Deliberations / finalisation on the SA Postbank Limited Amendment Bill [B 22-2022]; Briefing by SITA and SABC, SAPO and DCDT and USAASA/USAF on material irregularities and action plan to address the AG concerns; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, (National Assembly), [Engagement on the state of Mogalakwena Local Municipality by – Mogalakwena Local Municipality, Waterberg District Municipality, Office of the Auditor-General Limpopo, Provincial Treasury and Coghsta, SALGA and Department of Cooperative Governance], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (BMA) on their readiness for the festive season and update on the progress on the establishment of the BMA; Briefing by the BMA Commissioner on the BMA Draft Regulations], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly), [Oral Hearings on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2 – 2022]: 09:00-13:00: Governing Body Foundation; Solidariteit; SA Alcohol Policy Alliance; LearnFree; Congress of South African Schools; 14:00-16:30: Mr J V J Sifunda; South Africa Learners Command; National Governance Association], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Wing, Parliament, 09:00-17:00

Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Meeting with the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) on the recovery of mainline train services; Deliberations on the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill B5-2022]; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings], Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy (National Assembly), [Responses by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on the written submissions relating to the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B13 – 2021]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Working on Fire Programme; Briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Advisor Ms F Ebrahim on process to extend the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill [B24-2021]; Continuation of the responses by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment on issues raised during submission on public hearings on the National Forest and Veld Fire Amendment Bill [B24 – 2021]; Consideration and adoption of a consolidated report and report on provincial public hearings on the National Forest and Veld Fire Amendment Bill [B24 – 2021]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Update on the provisions of the National Treasury SCM Instruction No. 03 of 2021/22 and progress on the implementation of the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS)], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:00

Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Responses by National Treasury and SARS on the submissions received on Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill (TALAB) and the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill (TLAB), and Rates bill; Consideration of the bill clause by clause], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 WEDNESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2022

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the DPWI, DBSA and National Treasury on the working relationship; impact on organograms of each institution; and oversight responsibilities emerging from their 17 August 2020 memorandum of understanding to manage], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Standing Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Department of Public Enterprises and Transnet Holdings SOC Limited on the 2022 Special Appropriation Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Achievement on Commitments by National Commissioner and National Policing Plan/Strategy], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Solidariteit on concerns about matters relating to child welfare and the functioning of the Department of Social Development; Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the annual report on the implementation of the National Plan of Action for Children], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Universities South Africa (USAf), South African Public Colleges Organisation (SAPCO), South Africa Union of Students (SAUS), South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association (SATVETSA) and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on the readiness for 2023 academic year], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, 09:00-14:00

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [The hearing on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) annual report and financial statements for the financial year 2021/22, all investigations, as well as irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditures], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-13:30

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, (National Assembly), [Briefing by Department of Public Enterprises on the mid-term performance report of the department and state-owned companies; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00

Rules Committee, (National Assembly), Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-12:30

Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Public hearings on the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill (B 18B-2022)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00

THURSDAY, 24 NOVEMBER 2022

Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by National Treasury on Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B23-2022] and Special Appropriation Bill [B24-2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Briefing on the NCACC Third Quarter Report, including a breakdown of imports per public and private sector; Consideration of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 18:00-21:00

FRIDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2022

Joint Meeting: Standing Committee on Appropriations and Select Committee on Appropriations, (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces), [Public Hearings on the following: 2022 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement; 2022 Adjustments Appropriation Bill; and 2022 Special Appropriation Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) / Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) on Commercialisation of innovations by youth entrepreneurs: focus on the Grassroots Innovation Programme and Technology Acquisition and Deployment Fund; Consideration of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00

Joint Meeting: Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs and Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Consideration and adoption of the joint Illegal Mining report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 Committees provide a platform for the public to present views directly to MPs. Share your thoughts, on-the-ground experience and expert information with 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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