This week in Parliament, all eyes were on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who on Wednesday delivered the 2024 Mid-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). The MTBPS outlined a sober fiscal outlook, highlighting a substantial revenue shortfall of R22.3 billion due to the South African Revenue Service (SARS) missing its tax target, which has driven debt-servicing costs higher. With GDP growth also revised down slightly to 1.1% for 2024, the government is working to stabilise debt at 75.5% of GDP by 2025/26, supported by a primary budget surplus achieved for the first time in 15 years. Notably, Godongwana withheld any major bailouts for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), except for a special R5 billion appropriation dedicated mainly to Sanral’s Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project and costs linked to the ICJ case. Fiscal restraint was underscored through budget cuts in critical departments like water affairs and higher education, while increasing allocations to Home Affairs, Social Development, and The Presidency. In a bid to control the public sector wage bill, the government also committed R11 billion over two years to support early retirement for public sector employees. These measures reflect a cautious approach to expenditure and an aim to narrow the main budget deficit from 4.7% to 3.4% of GDP by 2027/28, as South Africa seeks a sustainable fiscal path forward amid tight economic constraints.
Parliamentary Programme
Plenaries
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
14:00 – Plenary (Nieuwmeester Marquee)
Members’ statements (50)
Legislation (pending)
Committee reports
Decisions on questions from mini-plenaries held on 24 October 2024:
Subject for discussion (N M Hadebe): Urgent need for nationwide inspections to protect vulnerable children from expired and harmful foods sold by unregulated, foreign-owned spaza shops.
Subject for discussion (Ms. D R Direko): Addressing the increasing challenges in disaster response capacity and funding.
Subject for discussion (Mr. A Sauls): Requesting the Executive Government to officially recognize Khoi, San, and Coloured people as “Africans in particular” rather than categorizing them as “blacks in general.”
Subject for discussion (Ms. A L A Abrahams): Addressing ongoing fraud and corruption at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and its failure to protect social grants from mismanagement.
Ms. M O Seate (ANC) asks the Deputy President: Following his recent visit to the United Kingdom, where he met with key investors and financial institutions, (a) which sectors of the economy did international investors express interest in, and (b) what actions has he implemented to create a favorable environment for investment across various sectors of South Africa’s economy?
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
14:00 – ±15:15 – Plenary (Nieuwmeester Marquee)
Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement
Introduction of:
Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B – 2024] (prop s77)
Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill [B – 2024] (prop s77)
Taxation Laws Amendment Bill [B – 2024] (prop s77)
Global Minimum Tax Bill [B – 2024] (prop s77)
Thursday, 31 October 2024
14:00 – ±16:30 – Plenary (Nieuwmeester Marquee)
Questions to the Deputy President
Committee Programme
Tuesday, 29 October 2024
09:00 – Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation (Virtual): Presentation on Corporate Plans of Water Boards by the Department of Water and Sanitation. Briefings from Vaal Central, uMngeni-uThukela, and Overberg Water Boards on their Corporate Plans, reflecting on achievements and challenges during the 2019-2024 term.
09:30 – 12:30 – Portfolio Committee on Mineral and Petroleum Resources (National Assembly, Committee Room S26, NCOP Building): Briefing by Alexkor on roles, responsibilities, programmes, and challenges; adoption of Stakeholder Engagement Report; consideration of minutes.
09:30 – 13:00 – Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition (National Assembly, Committee Room M46, Marks Building): Briefing by the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (DTIC) on the implementation of Master Plans.
09:30 – Portfolio Committee on Transport (National Assembly, Committee Room S12A, NCOP Building): Briefing by the Department of Transport and SANRAL on “Operation Vala Zonke”; update on the new Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP); adoption of minutes.
10:00 – Portfolio Committee on Tourism (National Assembly, Committee Room M314, Marks Building): Briefing by the Department of Tourism on the Policy Review Process and the Tourism Masterplan; adoption of minutes.
09:30 – 13:00 – Portfolio Committee on Agriculture (National Assembly, Boardroom WS3/116, 90 Plein Street Building): Adoption of the Oversight Visit Report on Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) and Agricultural Research Council (ARC); adoption of draft minutes.
10:00 – 13:00 – Select Committee on Security and Justice (National Council of Provinces, Ministry of Police Board Room, 120 Plein Street Building): Briefing by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service (CSPS) on the Annual Performance Plan 2024/25 and 2023/24 Annual Report; adoption of minutes from 9 October 2024.
Wednesday, 30 October 2024
09:00 – 12:30 – Portfolio Committee on Police (Virtual): Briefing by the Civilian Secretariat for Police on compliance with the Domestic Violence and Police Station Census.
09:30 – 12:30 – Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure (National Assembly, Boardroom 4031, 90 Plein Street Building): Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and National Treasury on the operational business model of PMTE; adoption of the Gauteng oversight report; adoption of minutes.
09:30 – 13:00 – Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry, and Competition (National Assembly, Committee Room S12A, NCOP Building): Briefing by Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies on the outcomes of Masterplan evaluations.
09:30 – 13:00 – Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development (Virtual): Discussion on navigating market access for small businesses; adoption of minutes.
09:30 – 13:00 – Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development (National Assembly, NSFAS Building): Briefing by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development on Communal Property Associations’ Annual Report, focusing on progress, challenges, interventions, and TRANCRAA areas.
