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Filling vacancies for the National Youth Development Agency Board (NYDA), a debate on Human Rights Day and questions to members of the executive are some of the agenda items on Parliament’s programme this week.

On Tuesday at 14:00, the National Assembly (NA) is scheduled to consider the report of the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities on filling vacancies on the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) Board. 

According to the National Youth Development Agency Act, the Board of the NYDA is appointed by the President on the recommendation of the National Assembly. Following a recruitment and interview process, the Portfolio Committee recommended the following nine candidates for appointment by the President to serve as NYDA board members for three years:

Ms Kelly Sandra Baloyi,

Ms Thembisile Precious Mawuha,

Dr Wiseman Mfaniseni Mbatha,

Mr Bonga Sipheshile Makhanya,

Mr Sibusisi Makhathini,

Mr Irfaan Mangera,

Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende,

Ms Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo, and Mr Xabiso Nicholas Nyati.

Once the House adopts the Committee Report with the recommended names, they will be sent to the President for appointment.

Also on Tuesday, the House will consider the report of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration on the Public Service Commission Bill as part of fulfilling Parliament’s law-making mandate. The Bill seeks to regulate the Public Service Commission and make it more independent by, among others, establishing its own secretariat to support its work.

During the same sitting, the House will also hold a debate on Human Rights Day on the theme of “Deepening a culture of social justice and human rights.”

On Tuesday at 14:00, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold an oral question-and-answer session with Cluster 2B Social Services Ministers, which include the Minister of Health and the Minister of Social Development.
The Minister of Health is expected to address questions on various issues, including plans to mitigate the negative impact on the healthcare system of recent funding cuts under the Presidential Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Additionally, the minister will outline how the government intends to manage the HIV/AIDS strategy amid a shortage of professional nursing staff across all provinces.

The Minister of Social Development will respond to concerns regarding challenges with replacing SASSA cards and monitoring the process. She will also elaborate on strategies her department is implementing to effectively reduce poverty and bridge the socio-economic divide, given South Africa’s persistently high levels of poverty and inequality.
On Wednesday at 15:00, the National Assembly (NA) will hold a question-and-answer session with Cluster 3: Governance Ministers. These include the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the Minister in The Presidency (GCIS), the Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, the Minister of Public Service and Administration, and the Minister of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities.

The NCOP will conclude the week on Thursday with an oral question-and-answer session with Cluster 2C: Social Services Ministers, which includes the Minister of Water and Sanitation and the Minister of Human Settlements.

The Minister of Human Settlements will provide an update on whether her department plans to revive stalled or incomplete housing development projects identified during the 2024 NCOP Provincial Week programme. She will also address whether her department has conducted impact assessments on budget cuts affecting housing delivery under the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework.

The Minister of Water and Sanitation is expected to respond to questions on whether her department has integrated plans to assist municipalities lacking the financial and technical capacity to maintain and upgrade critical water infrastructure, particularly in expanding township areas. Additionally, the minister will provide details on the total amount owed to water boards by municipalities and outline the department’s plans to assist water boards in recovering these funds.

There are 21 committee meetings scheduled for this week, as outlined below:  

TUESDAY, 18 MARCH 2025
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Briefing by ICASA on critical steps to address: (i) Market Inquiry on Signal Distribution; (ii) Inquiry into User and Subscriber Charter; (iii) Update on the Amendment of Regulation of Interception of Communications and provision of communication‑related information Act (RICA); (vi) SAPO Regulations; (vii) Sports Broadcasting Regulations; (viii) Update on the monitoring of the implementation of the Universal Service Obligations emanating from the Spectrum Auction. Adoption of minutes. Room 1, NFSAS Building, 4 Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town, 10:00 – 13:00

Joint meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition and Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition on policy priorities of South Africa’s G20 Presidency and DTIC’s role in this regard. M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, 09:30 – 13:00

Joint meeting with Standing Committee on Appropriations, Select Committee on Finance and Standing Committee on Finance, Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) and Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2025 Budget. TBC, 09:00 – 13:00

Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings: Progress report of the executive undertakings made by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure during the sitting of 23 July 2024. Venue: TBC, 10:00 – 12:00

Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries: Briefing by the Department of Higher Education and Training on registration in universities, Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges and Community Education and Training (CET) Colleges, as well as the status of infrastructure across the higher education portfolio. Briefing by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme on student funding for the 2025 academic year. Venue: TBC 10:00 – 13:00
 
WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH 2025
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: Briefing by the Military Veterans Appeal Board on its functions, impact and challenges. Consideration of outstanding minutes. M314, Third Floor, Marks Building, 10:00 – 13:00

Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Briefing by the DPWI and IDT on the NA report regarding how far the process of appointing the new Board of Trustees is, the business case regarding the reconfiguration process of the IDT and a written report by the DPWI explaining how the department plans to assist the IDT in being sustainable. Consideration and adoption of minutes. Committee room 4, 90 Plein Street, 09:30 – 12:30

Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements: Meeting with service providers for alternative technologies - Moladi, CSIR, Agreement South Africa. Committee Room 2, 90 Plein Street, 09:30 – 13:00

Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by various departments on the implementation of the Sexual Offences Act in preparation for Human Rights Day. Briefing by the DNA Board on forensics and DNA processing. Venue: TBC, 10:00 – 13:00

Select Committee on Social Services: Briefing by the Central Drug Authority (CDA) on the 2023/24 Annual Report and an update on the National Drug Master Plan. Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes. Consideration and Adoption of Committee Oversight Report. Virtual meeting platform, 10:00 – 12:30

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry: Briefing by the NRCS on its amended/revised APP and third-quarter financial and non-financial performance.

Issued by the Parliament of South Africa