Budget Votes of government departments and state entities will take centre stage on the agenda of both Houses of Parliament this week, alongside consideration of legislation and questions to Members of the Executive.

The National Assembly (NA) is scheduled to hold four hybrid Mini Plenaries this week dealing with 14 Budget Votes, while the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) is scheduled to hold Policy Debates on four Budget Votes at its plenary sittings this week.

On Tuesday, the NA’s Mini Plenaries will cover six Budget Votes, beginning in the morning with Mineral Resources and Energy, and Water and Sanitation departments. The afternoon mini plenaries will focus on Budget Votes of Public Service and Administration, and Government Communications, Small Business Development, as well as the National Treasury.

On Wednesday, the NA’s Mini Plenaries will proceed to cover Budget Vote 40: Transport, Vote 30: Communication and Digital Technologies, and Vote 5: Home Affairs. On Thursday, they will consider Vote 34: Mineral Resources and Energy, Vote 11: Public Service and Administration, Vote 7: National School of Governance, and Vote 12: Public Service Commission.

The NA’s Mini Plenaries will conclude the week on Friday morning at 10.00 with policy debates on Budget Votes on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and National Treasury (State Security).

Meanwhile the NCOP will hold a policy debate on Budget Vote on Human Settlements on Tuesday at 14:00. At the same plenary sitting the NCOP will consider the Repealing of the Transkeian Panel Code Bill.

Ministers in Economics Cluster 4D will reply to oral questions from NCOP delegates at 14.00 on Wednesday. The Cluster comprises of Finance, Small Business Development, Trade, Industry and Competition, as well as Employment and Labour ministries. The procedure for putting questions to the Executive is one of the ways in which Parliament holds the Executive accountable.

Section 92(2) of the Constitution stipulates that Cabinet Members are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of powers and performance of their functions. Parliament uses a range of instruments to hold the Executive accountable

On Thursday at 08.30 the two Houses of Parliament, will convene their Programme Committee meetings to plan for the business of Parliament. The meetings, will among others, consider the draft programme of the respective houses, committee reports, and Bills before the Houses. Parliament continues to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities. Much of Parliament’s law making and oversight work, which includes public access and involvement, is carried out in its committees.

There are 32 committee meetings scheduled for this week as outlined below:

TUESDAY, 16 MAY

Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, Closed Meeting

Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, Briefing by the Department of Home Affairs on the third and fourth quarters for the 2022-2023 financial year;

Portfolio Committee on Communications, Briefing by: (i) the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and its Entities; (ii) Government Communications and Information Systems (GCIS) and its Entity on the impact of Load shedding to Universal Service Obligations (USO) and Quality of Service

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry, Briefing by the ECIC on its 2023/24 Strategic and Annual Performance Plan (APP)

Portfolio Committee on Transport, Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the progress on the Material Irregularities at the Department of Transport and its entities;

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Briefing by the DALRRD together with the Special Master of Labour Tenants at the Land Claims Court about the settlement of the Labour tenant’s applications;

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, Consideration and adoption of draft minutes and draft reports; Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on Assessment of DBE Annual Performance Plan 2022/23;

Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, Oral submissions on Climate Change Bill [B9-2022]; and Briefing by the Department

on the Rock Lobster Anti-Poaching Strategy],

Select Committee on Health and Social Services, Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the Fund raising Amendment Bill [B29B-2020];

WEDNESDAY, 17 MAY

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure, Follow-up briefings by the DPWI, SAPS and City of Ekurhuleni on the Petition tabled by Hon. Bodlani, from the residents of Brackenhurst and Brackendowns: calling on the Assembly to request the City of Ekurhuleni to investigate the transfer of the ownership of the property where the Brackendowns Police Station is located to the

Standing Committee on Finance, Consideration and adoption and clause by clause deliberations on the Financial Matters Amendment Bill

Portfolio Committee on Police, Briefing on the status of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) Amendment Bill, including correlations /alignment to the 2016 White Paper on Policing and 2016 White Paper on Safety and Security],

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements, Briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General South Africa on material irregularity and audit insight shared during Budgetary Review Recommendation Report;

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Briefing by the National Skills Fund (NSF) and Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) on Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025 and Annual Performance Plan

Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Meeting with Minister of Public Enterprises regarding ex GCEO of Eskom on allegations of corruption, theft, maladministration, sabotage, lack of consequence management, cartels and other financial irregularities at ESKOM.

Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, Briefing by the Department on the preliminary progress on the preparations for the BRICS Summit in August 2023

Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises, Update from SAA on their business operations, and how the delay of the finalisation of the strategic equity partnership is affecting their business; Consideration and adoption of budget vote report.

Select Committee on Security and Justice, Consideration of the Land Court Bill proposed amendments; Adoption of reports

Select Committee on Appropriations, Consultation with Financial and Fiscal Commission and Parliamentary Budget Office on the: (i) Appropriation Bill [B3 – 2023]; and (ii) Eskom Debt Relief Bill

Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans, Engagement with National Treasury (NT) on DOD funding constraints and ways to optimise financial management in the Department, including: The option of pre-funding ad hoc deployments and assisting other state Departments and Entities during emergencies, through contingency funds.

Select Committee on Transport, Public Service and Administration, Public Works and Infrastructure, Consideration and adoption of the Policy Assessment and Recommendations

THURSDAY, 18 MAY

Joint Standing Committee on Defence, Briefing by the SA Navy on its expenditure plans, contracting details and timeframes for the repair and maintenance of Frigates and Submarines.

FRIDAY, 19 MAY

Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament, Parliament’s performance in the Fourth Quarter of 2022/23: briefing by the Secretary to Parliament; Parliament’s 2023/24 budget and APP: update by the Secretary to Parliament; Organisational restructuring, filling of critical vacancies, and macro-structure for the 7th Parliament: briefings by the Secretary to Parliament; Consideration.

Portfolio Committee on Police, Crime Statistics, Pre–release briefing

Fourth Quarter Crime Statistics 2022/23 financial year.

Source: Parliament of South Africa