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The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will this week hold three hybrid sittings to consider motions, committee reports and conduct debates on matters of national importance.  The National Assembly (NA) this week is embarking on a two-week constituency programme.

On Tuesday, 8 October, the NCOP will convene a hybrid plenary at 14:00 to hold a debate on 31 Years of Democracy under the theme, “Commemorating 31 Years of Collective Efforts to Build a New Society Rooted in the Ideals of the Freedom Charter.” The House will also consider report of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency’s oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal Province from 23 to 25 October 2024.

On Wednesday, at 14:00, the House will consider the Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on two oversight visits. The committee visited Limpopo province from 22 to 23 October 2024 and the Simon’s Town Naval base in Cape Town on 13 November 2024. The House will also debate housing inadequacy in South Africa and the prevalence of informal settlements.

The NCOP’s last plenary for the week will be held on Thursday at 14:00 to consider two committee reports and hold a debate. The first committee report to be considered is the joint oversight visit of the Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy and the Select Committee on Trade to the Free State. The plenary will also consider the report of the Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy on public engagement with the fishing community of Diazville in Saldanha.

During the same sitting, the House will also debate measures to address poverty and hunger under the theme “Expanding the Effectiveness of the Measures Geared towards Tackling the Enduring Legacy of Poverty and Hunger.”
 
National Assembly

Members of the National Assembly (NA) will begin their constituency period from 7 to 17 April. This is part of the 7th Parliament’s rotational approach to the parliamentary programme, where the work is reorganised into three components: committee oversight week, constituency engagement and plenary sittings. This approach enables members to focus fully on each core function to maximise its impact. Constituency periods afford MPs ample time to have meaningful and direct engagement with communities and constituencies, where each member utilises their respective constituency offices spread across the length and breadth of South Africa.

International Engagements

Speaker of the NA, Ms Thoko Didiza, is leading a multi-party delegation of Parliament to the 150th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 5 to 9 April 2025, under the overarching theme, “Parliamentary Action for Social Development and Justice.” The debate on this theme offers delegates a platform to deliberate, exchange views and galvanise parliamentary action. The other members of the delegation are Mr Les Govender, Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP); Ms Doris Dlakude (ANC): Mr Mzwanele Manyi (MKP); Ms Seeng Mokoena-Zondi (MKP); Mr Mikateko Mahlaule (ANC); Ms Jane Mananiso (ANC); Mr Baxolile Nodada (DA); Ms Nqobile Mhlongo (EFF); and Mr Nhlanhla Hadebe (IFP).

Weekly Committee Cluster Media Briefing

The chairpersons of four Security Cluster oversight committees from both the NA and the NCOP will, on Thursday, 10 April 2025, update the media on the essential work these committees are undertaking. The media briefing will be held at the Good Hope Chamber. These four committees are: Portfolio Committee on Defence & Military Veterans (Chaired by Mr Molefi Legoete); 

Select Committee on Security and Justice (Chaired by Ms Jane Seboletswe Mananiso);

Joint Standing Committee on Defence (Chaired by Mr Malusi Gigaba and Mr Phiroane Phala); and the

Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings (Chaired by Mr Ofentse Mokae).

The briefing will report on the committees’ impressions on the oversight visit conducted in March and the intensification of various service delivery points across the country. 

Committee Meetings

There are nine Select Committee meetings scheduled this week, as follows: 

TUESDAY, 8 APRIL 2025

Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings: Consideration and adoption of the progress report on the executive undertakings made by the Minister of Water and Sanitation during the sitting of 16 July 2024. Consideration of outstanding minutes. Venue: TBC, 10:00 - 12:00

Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries: Briefing by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) on their 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan and Budget. Briefing by the Parliament Budget Office on the analysis of the budget allocated to DSAC. Consideration and adoption of Draft Minutes. Venue: TBC 09:30 – 13:00.

Select Committee on Finance: Briefing by Auditor-General and National Treasury on the performance of provincial Treasuries and their entities. Committee Room 1, Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street, 10:00 - 13:00
 
WEDNESDAY, 9 APRIL 2025

Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing by the Film and Publication Board (FPB) on challenges (harmful content) brought by social media and other online platforms and measures to counter them. S35, First Floor, NCOP Building, 10:00 – 13:00

Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency:Consideration of Negotiating Mandates on the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation Bill) [B10 - 2022] (Sec 76). Department of Transport Response to the Negotiating Mandates on the Bill. M514, Marks Building, 10:00 – 13:00

Select Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by Parliamentary Budget Office on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill, 2025 Appropriation Bill and 2025 Eskom Bill. M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building, 10:00-13:00

Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on maintenance of government infrastructure and plans to improve services to the JCPS cluster. Venue: TBC, 10:00 - 13:00

Select Committee on Social Services: Briefing by the Department of Health on the Strategic Plan, 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Vote. Consideration and Adoption of Committee Minutes. Venue: Committee Room 1, 90 Plein, Ground Floor 10:00 – 12:30

 

Issued by the Parliament of South Africa