With the news cycle having been dominated by the findings of the Independent Panel Report into the Phala Phala farm burglary handed over Parliament last week, the Speaker of the National Assembly has agreed to postpone the debate and vote on the report that was due to take place today, to the 13th of December 2022.
This leaves the following agenda items on today’s plenary programme:
TUESDAY, 6 DECEMBER
10:00 – ±12:30 PLENARY (HYBRID)
- Consideration of Children’s Amendment Bill [B18D-2020] (s76) and of Report of PC on Social Development thereon
- Consideration of Recommendation of candidates to fill twelve vacancies on South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Board
14:00 – ±15:30 PLENARY (Continued) (HYBRID)
- Consideration of Approval of South Africa’s Membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
- Farewell speeches
Two Committee Meetings of interest this week:
On Monday, deliberations by the Committee for section 194 enquiry (National Assembly) into suspended Public Protector (PP) Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office continues with further testimony from ex-senior investigator Mr. Mulao Lamula .
Section 194 of the constitution authorizes the removal of the head of a Chapter 9 institution, such as the Public Protector, on the grounds of incompetence, misconduct and incapacity. Several witnesses comprising of current and former staff members have appeared before the Committee and made allegations of a toxic work environment at the Office of the Public Protector during Mkhwebane’s tenure.
On Tuesday, The Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly) will be briefed by the Presidency on the Just Transition Energy Investment Plan.
At COP 26 in November 2021, the governments of South Africa, France, United States of America, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union (forming the International Partners Group [IPG]) issued a Political Declaration announcing a new Just Energy Transition Plan.
The Partnership aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of South Africa’s economy to help it achieve the goals outlined in South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contribution emissions goals. An initial funding of R1.5 trillion will be needed over five years in order to begin the twenty-year energy transition. The IPG has undertaken to mobilise $8.5bn (R128bn) to support the first phase of South Africa’s Just Energy Transition. The plan covers three priority sectors, namely that of the energy sector, electric vehicles and green hydrogen.
The drive towards the investment in renewables is considered imperative in that it would enable South Africa to alleviate the burden of load-shedding which is estimated to cost the economy over R600bn per annum. Furthermore, the transition is believed to improve the country’s competitiveness in global markets by reducing the carbon intensity of its exports.
1.1. Committee Programme
MONDAY, 05 DECEMBER 2022
Committee for Section 194 Enquiry, (National Assembly), [Hearings: Day 40 – Mr Mulao Lamula to appear before the Committee], Hybrid (Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building and Virtual Meeting Platform), 10:00
TUESDAY, 6 DECEMBER 2022
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, (National Assembly) [Consideration and Adoption of Draft Minutes: 1 November 2022; 8 November 2022; 15 November 2022; 22 November 2022; and 29 November 2022; Update on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B2–2022] Processing (Written, Oral and Provincial Public Participation Hearings) Status Report; Briefing on International Study Tour], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-9:30
Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Presidency on the Just Transition Energy Investment Plan; Consideration and adoption of minutes: 29 November 2022], Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00-09:50
Portfolio Committee on Communications, (National Assembly), [Finalisation on the SA Postbank Limited Amendment Bill [B 22-2022]; Adoption on minutes [dated 29 November 2022]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-10:00
WEDNESDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2022
Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Further processing of the General Laws (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Amendment Bill (B 18B-2022) clause by clause; Briefing by NT on the ratification of the Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and possible voting], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
FRIDAY, 9 DECEMBER 2022
Select Committee on Finance, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of General Laws Amendment (Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Terrorism Financing) Bill and possible voting], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
