This week in Parliament: Cannabis and the RICA Bill
Oct 23, 2023

This week sees a lot of activity for committee members, as well as on the level of the National Assembly. 

On Tuesday the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, will give feedback to parliament on interventions aimed at limiting load shedding. 

Ministers in the Economic Cluster will answer questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday. The Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan, will be peppered with questions on the recent exodus of executives at Transnet, while the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, will be asked whether he feels South Africa’s response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas can further endanger South Africa’s inclusion in the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). 

The Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services will on Tuesday deliberate on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill. Among other goals, the Bill aims to regulate the possession of cannabis plant cultivation material, the cultivation of cannabis plants and the consumption of cannabis by an adult person.

On Friday the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services will deliberate on the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Amendment Bill. The Bill seeks to regulate state surveillance. 

 

1. Parliamentary Programme

TUESDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2023 

14:00 – ±17:15 PLENARY (HYBRID) 

      1. Statement by the Minister in The Presidency responsible for Electricity on the Energy Action Plan activities and short to medium-term interventions to limit the intensity and frequency of load shedding (77) 

      1. Consideration of Report of PC on Transport on Railway Safety Bill [B 7 – 2021] (s76(1)) (ATC, 19 September 2023, p 5) 

      1. Second Reading debate – Railway Safety Bill[B7B–2021](s76(1))(77) 

      1. Consideration of Report of PC on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment on Climate Change Bill [B 9 – 2022] (s76(1)) (ATC, 20 September 2023, p 27) 

      1. Second Reading debate – Climate Change Bill [B 9B – 2022] (s76(1)) (77) 

     

    WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2023 

    15:00 – 18:00 PLENARY (HYBRID)
    Questions for Oral Reply: Cluster 5: Economics 

     

    THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2023 

    14:00 – PLENARY (HYBRID) 

        1. Consideration of Report of PC on Mineral Resources and Energy on Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B 13 – 2021] (s76(1)) (ATC, 20 September 2023, p 40) 

        1. Second Reading debate – Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill [B 13B – 2021] (s76(1)) 

        1. Consideration of Report of PC on Basic Education on Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2 – 2022] (s76(1)) (ATC, 28 September 2023) 

        1. Second Reading debate – Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill [B 2B – 2022] (s76(1)) (77) 

       

      FRIDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2023 

      10:00 – ±13:00 MINI-PLENARY SESSIONS (VIRTUAL) Mini-plenary 1: 

          1. Consideration of Report of PC on Police on Proposed Parliamentary inquiry into July 2021 unrest (ATC, 20 September 2023, p 7) (49) (p) 

          1. Consideration of Report of PC on Public Service and Administration on Oversight visit to Northern Cape and Free State Provinces from 27-31 March 2023 (ATC, 7 June 2023, p 74) (49) 

          1. Consideration of Report of PC on Police on Oversight visit to Forensic Science Laboratory in Amanzimtoti (KwaZuluNatal), Forensic Science Laboratory in Gqeberha North End (Eastern Cape) and New Brighton Police Station, Gqeberha, on 29 and 31 March 2023 (ATC, 17 May 2023, p 135) (49) (p) 

        Mini-plenary 2: 

            1. Consideration of Report of Standing Committee on Appropriations on Oversight visit to Transnet SOC Limited and Passenger Rail Agency South Africa from 27 to 31 March 2023 (ATC, 20 June 2023, p 3) (49) 

            1. Consideration of Report of PC on Communications and Digital Technologies on Oversight visit to Gauteng and Northern Cape Province from 19 to 21 April 2023 (ATC, 15 June 2023, p 44) (49) 

            1. Consideration of Report of PC on Tourism on Oversight visit to North West Province (ATC, 19 May 2023, p 3) (49) (p) 

          Mini-plenary 3: 

              1. Consideration of Report of PC on Trade, Industry and Competition on Oversight visit to Gauteng and Limpopo from 31 January to 3 February 2023 (ATC, 16 May 2023, p 17) (49) (p) 

              1. Consideration of Report of PC on Public Works and Infrastructure on Oversight visit to Small Harbours and Robben Island (ATC, 10 May 2023, p 33) (49) 

              1. Consideration of Report of Standing Committee on Finance on Oversight visit to Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator (ATC, 3 May 2023, p 55) (49) 

             

             

            2. Committee Programme 

             

            TUESDAY, 24 OCTOBER 2023 

            Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, (National Assembly), [Inputs by Committee Support Staff and Parliamentary Legal Service on the Preservation and Development of Agricultural Land (PDAL) Bill], Committee Room M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:00-14:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Response from Parliamentary Legal Advisor and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on the submissions received on the Bill; Consideration of the first draft of the BRR Report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Legal Services on the removal of Judges from Office; Deliberations on the Cannabis for Private Purposes Bill; Deliberations on the Divorce Amendment Bill [B22 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 

            Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Clause-by-Clause deliberations on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Bill [B 10-2022]; Consideration and adoption of Committee report on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Bill [B 10-2022]; Consideration and adoption of Committee report on the Department of Transport 2023/24 First Quarter expenditure; Consideration and adoption of minutes of proceedings) Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 10:00-13:00 

             

            WEDNESDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2023 

            Standing Committee on Finance, (National Assembly), [Response by National Treasury and SARS to the submissions received on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill, Revenue Administration and Pension Laws Amendment Bill, Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill, Taxation Laws Amendment Bill and the Tax Administration Laws Amendment Bill], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, (National Assembly), [The report by the Public Service Commission on the roundtable on functional accommodation for service delivery held on 16 November 2022], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-12:00 

            Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, (National Council of Provinces), [Department of Public Works and Infrastructure responses oral and written submissions on Expropriation Bill [B 23B- 2020] (sec 76)], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Police (SAPS) on violence and murder of children – mandates, programmes and interventions, statistics and impact of interventions and programmes; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Companies A/Bs], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00 

            Standing Committee on Public Accounts, (National Assembly), [Deliberation on the appearance of former Brigadier Jap Burger of the SAPS concerning allegations of corrupt and fraudulent activities and other maladministration at Eskom], Committee Room M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 09:30-12:30 

            Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development, (National Assembly), [Preparations for legislation public hearings on National Small Enterprise Amendment Bill; Consideration and adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, (National Assembly), [Departmental responses on the submissions from the Public Hearings on the Public Administration Management Amendment Bill [B10 – 2023] and Public Service Amendment Bill [B13 -2023]; Briefing by the Parliamentary Legal Services on the constitutionality of the Bills], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30-13:00 

             

            THURSDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2023 

            Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, (National Assembly), [Election of the Chairperson; Briefing by the Content Advisor on the Intelligence Sector; Briefing of the Ad Hoc Committee by the Parliamentary Legal Services Drafter on the readiness of the Committee Bill to be considered by the Committee; Briefing by the Legal Advisor on the legislative process; Consideration and adoption of the draft Committee programme], Committee Room M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, Parliament, 08:00-10:00 

            FRIDAY, 27 OCTOBER 2023 

            Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Companies A/Bs; Formal consideration of the BRR Report], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00- 13:00 

            Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Regulation of Interception of Communications and Provision of Communication-related Information Amendment Bill; Deliberations on the Divorce Amendment Bill [B22 – 2023]], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30


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