This week all eyes will be on the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, as he delivers his Medium Term Budget Statement on Wednesday. The so-called “mini-budget” allows departments to apply for adjustments to their budgets and request additional funding. Importantly, it also indicates how the government intends to broadly structure the upcoming national budget, to be set out in the Budget Speech delivered in February.
On Thursday the President of the Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, will answer questions in the National Assembly. He will be asked by members of the ANC what implications the recent census results will have for macro-economic policy, and whether he has engaged with stakeholders to determine how the Reserve Bank could be more accountable to Parliament.
On committee level, the Select Committee on Health and Social Services will consider submissions on the National Health Insurance Bill on Tuesday.
1. Parliamentary Programme
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2023
14:00 – ±16:45 PLENARY (HYBRID)
1. Consideration of Report of PC on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill [B31-2022] (s75) (ATC, 29 September 2023)
2. Second Reading debate – National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Bill [B31-2022] (s75) (77)
3. Consideration of Recommendation of candidates to fill three vacancies on Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) Board (Report of PC on Communications, see ATC, 16 October 2023, p 7) (54) (declarations)
4. Consideration of Recommendation of candidate to fill a vacancy on Council of Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) Council (Report of PC on Communications, see ATC, 16 October 2023, p 5) (54) (declarations)
5. Consideration of Draft notice and schedule determining the rate, with effect from 1 April 2022, at which salaries and allowances are payable to Commissioners of the Commission for Gender Equality annually, for approval by Parliament in terms of section 8(1)(a) of the Commission for Gender Equality Act, 1996 (Act No 39 of 1996) (Report of PC on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities see, ATC, 20 October 2023, p 65) (no debate)
6. Decision of Question on consideration of reports debated in mini-plenary on 27 October:
PC on Police on Proposed Parliamentary inquiry into July 2021 unrest
PC on Public Service and Administration on Oversight visit to Northern Cape and Free State Provinces from 27-31 March 2023
- PC on Police on Oversight visit to Forensic Science Laboratory in Amanzimtoti (KwaZulu-Natal), Forensic Science Laboratory in Gqeberha North End (Eastern Cape) and New Brighton Police Station, Gqeberha, on 29 and 31 March 2023
- Standing Committee on Appropriations on Oversight visit to Transnet SOC Limited and Passenger Rail Agency South Africa from 27 to 31 March 2023
- PC on Communications and Digital Technologies on Oversight visit to Gauteng and Northern Cape Province from 19 to 21 April 2023
- PC on Tourism on Oversight visit to North West Province – PC on Trade, Industry and Competition on Oversight visit to Gauteng and Limpopo from 31 January to 3 February 2023 – Public Works and Infrastructure on Oversight visit to Small Harbours and Robben Island
- Standing Committee on Finance on Oversight visit to Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator
WEDNESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2023
14:00 – ±15:15 PLENARY (Cape Town City Hall) (physical)
1. Medium Term Budget Policy Statement
2. Introduction:
Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B – 2023] (prop s77)
Rates and Monetary Amounts and Amendment of Revenue Laws Bill [B – 2023] (prop s77)
Taxation Laws Amendment Bill [B – 2023] (prop s77)
Revenue Laws Amendment Bill [B-2023] (prop s77)
Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill [B-2023] (prop s77)
THURSDAY, 02 NOVEMBER 2023
14:00 – ±17:00 PLENARY (HYBRID)
Questions to the President
2. Committee Programme
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2023
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation (National Assembly), [Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on the Realignment of Water Boards; Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on Water Boards Corporate/Business Plans 2023/24 Financial Year; Briefing by the Secretariat on processes to be followed on submissions on the National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited Bill (B24-2023) as introduced in the National Assembly (proposed section 75 bill), explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No. 49063 of 1 August 2023], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
Select Committee on Trade and Industry, Economic Development, Small Business Development, Tourism, Employment and Labour, (National Council of Provinces), [Briefing by the Department of Small Business Development on its First Quarterly report for the 2023/24 financial year; Consideration and adoption of minutes and Fourth Term Programme], 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
Select Committee on Health and Social Services, (National Council of Provinces), [Consideration of the Submissions on the NHI Bill [B11B-2019], sec 76 and the responses to submissions by the Department of Health; Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Transport, (National Assembly), [Consideration of draft Committee Legacy Report; Consideration of draft Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report (pending the tabling of the 2022/23 Annual Reports of the Department of Transport and its entities that have not yet tabled their reports); Consideration and adoption of draft minutes of proceedings], Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00-13:00
WEDNESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2023
Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Department responses to the public submissions on the Amendment Bill], 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
Portfolio Committee on Social Development, (National Assembly), [Briefing by the unemployed social worker’s petition calling on National Assembly to investigate the inability of the government to create permanent employment for unemployed social workers in South Africa; Briefing by the Department of Social Development in response to a petition received from the unemployed social workers in South Africa; Adoption of minutes], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, (National Assembly), Report on the Motion of Desirability of the Bills for Public Administration Management Amendment Bill [B10 -2023] and Public Service Amendment Bill [B13 -2023]; Consideration and deliberations of the Bills, clause by clause by the Committee], Virtual Meeting Platform, 15:30-18:00
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), [Medium- Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) Lock-up], Cape Town City Hall, 11:00-14:00
FRIDAY, 03 NOVEBMER 2023
Portfolio Committee on Police, (National Assembly), [Committee deliberations on the Independent Investigative Directorate Amendment Bill [B21-2023]], Committee Room S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, Parliament, 09:00-13:0
Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, (National Assembly), [Deliberations on the Companies A/Bs], Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00-13:00
