The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms Thoko Didiza, will lead a parliamentary delegation to the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum’s (SADC PF) 57th Plenary Assembly this week. Also on the parliamentary programme this week are questions for oral reply, debates on the P20 theme, ending the energy crisis, and the defence force midterm strategic review. The Older Persons Amendment Bill, committee reports, and mini-plenaries are also part of the programme.

The 57th Plenary Assembly of the SADC PF, held at Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe from 2 to 7 June 2025, will be held under the theme: “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Effective and Efficient Parliamentary Processes in the SADC Region: Experiences, Challenges and Opportunities.” 

During the plenary session, the Speaker is scheduled to present a report on the progress made in implementing the resolutions adopted at the 56th Plenary Assembly, which was held in December 2024 in Zambia.

In her report, Speaker Didiza will highlight South Africa’s experiences in leveraging technology and innovation to build an innovative, inclusive and responsive Parliament. She will also outline how the South African Parliament has mobilised, allocated and utilised resources to support public health, including financing sexual and reproductive health and rights.

The objectives and expected outcomes of the Plenary Assembly include, among others, exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve Parliament’s work by making it more open and inclusive to everyone while also tackling issues such as cyber threats and unequal access to technology. The Assembly is also expected to consider adopting AI and other new tools in the lawmaking process in a manner that respects the rules and ethical considerations while enabling scrutiny of government action and avoiding problems such as bias and misinformation in the data provided by AI.

Parliament’s delegation includes the Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Kenneth Mmoiemang, Ms Sylvia Lucas (African National Congress); Mr Bonginkosi Madikizela (Democratic Alliance); Ms Veronica Mente-Nkuna (Economic Freedom Fighters); Mr David Skosana (Umkhonto Wesizwe Party), and Ms Lindelwa Dunjwa (African National Congress).
 
The SADC-PF was established in 1997 under Article 9(2) of the SADC Treaty as an autonomous institution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It is a regional inter-parliamentary body that comprises15 parliaments and represents over 3 500 parliamentarians in the SADC region. These member parliaments are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 

In Parliament, the NCOP, in its hybrid plenary on Tuesday at 14:00, will consider reports, including the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Defence on the Midterm Strategic Review of South African National Defence Force, the report of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests on the Non-disclosure of Members’ Interests for 2024, and the report of the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade on the Petition to introduce legislation for government-funded intellectual property registration for previously disadvantaged and marginalised groups in South Africa.

On the same day, the NA is scheduled to consider the report of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on the Older Persons Amendment Bill and hold a debate on the P20 theme titled “Harnessing parliamentary diplomacy for the realisation of global solidarity, equality and sustainability.” This year, South Africa holds the Presidency of the G20. In alignment with this role, Parliament will host the P20 Summit — a gathering of Speakers and Presiding Officers of Parliaments from G20 member countries. The P20 platform serves as the parliamentary dimension of the G20 and aims to strengthen global legislative collaboration on key development priorities. Under this theme, South Africa’s Parliament will use this forum to champion inclusive development, democratic values and multilateral cooperation through robust parliamentary dialogue.

The sitting will also consider members’ statements, motions without notice and notices of motion.

On Wednesday at 15:00, the NA will host ministers from the Governance Cluster (3) for a hybrid question-and-answer session. Cluster 3 comprises ministers from the following departments: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs; Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation; Public Service and Administration; Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities; and Minister in the Presidency (GCIS).

On Thursday, the NA will have a Programming Committee (NAPC) meeting to consider its activities for the second term of the parliamentary programme. Later that day, the House will convene to consider messages of condolence on the late Ms Lungi Mnganga-Gcabashe, a Member of the NA and Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, who passed on 17 May 2025. This hybrid sitting will also consider three reports from the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation on the oversight visit to Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo; the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture on its oversight visit to Onderstepoort Biological Products and the Agricultural Research Council in Gauteng Province from 7 to 11 October 2024; and the Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development on the Appointment of the Small Enterprise Ombud.
 
Also on Thursday, the NCOP will convene a hybrid plenary to proceed with a debate sponsored by the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party that was deferred from the first term. The debate will be held under the title: “Power to the People: Confronting Corruption and Delivering Sustainable Solutions to End South Africa’s Energy Crisis.” The House is also scheduled to consider reports of two committees – the report of the Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency on the oversight visit to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) Station Modernisation and Rail Corridor Revitalisation Projects on 12 March 2025 and the report of the Select Committee on Social Services on the oversight visit to Gauteng from 24 to 28 February 2025.
 
There are 46 committee meetings scheduled from Tuesday until Friday this week, as outlined below:
 
TUESDAY, 3 JUNE 2025
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Briefing by departments of Basic Education (DBE), Higher Education and Training (DHET) and Employment and Labour (DEL) on the following: Streamlining Education Provisioning - Correlations between DBE, DHET and DEL Programmes, Three-Stream model link with DBE, DHET and DEL, Support for the Senior Phase, Exit strategies for student and graduates, and Improving the Quality of life for learners living with disabilities in terms of careers, talents and adaptive tools. Consideration and adoption of draft minutes and draft report. Southern Sun, Cape Sun, Strand Street, Cape Town. 09:30 – 12:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Adoption of minutes. Adoption of GCIS 3rd and 4th Quarter Report. Presentation by the Minister in the Presidency on the strategy for the sustainability of community radio stations, including digitisation. Briefing by the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) on concerns raised around the formulation of a strategy for community print media funding. Briefing by the Films and Publications Board (FPB) on regulating video on demand of broadcasters versus online streamers. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: Briefing by the NSPCA on progress on implementing the report of the High-Level Panel on Captive Animals. Adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Joint meeting of the Standing Committee on Finance and the Select Committee on Finance:Consideration of the draft Committee Report on the Fiscal Framework and Revenue proposals. Venue: TBC, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament: Briefing by the Parliamentary Medical Aid Scheme (Parmed) Board on various challenges concerning the scheme. Good Hope Chamber, Good Hope Building, Ground Floor (Hybrid). 18:00 – 21:00 (after plenaries in the NA and NCOP)
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on their response to the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) Annual Report 2023/24. Venue: 16th Floor, NSFAS Building. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs: Briefing by the DCoG on the outcomes of the District Development Model (DDM) pilot projects. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency: Engagement with eThekwini Municipality, the Minister of Transport and stakeholders on the resolution of disputes related to the Go! Durban Integrated Public Transport Network Corridor. Committee Room 2, 120 Plein. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition: Briefing by the DTIC on the Transformation Fund. M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building. 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Health: Public Hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill [B33 – 2022]. (Consumer Goods Council of South Africa and Duty-Free). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Health: Public Hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill [B33 – 2022]. (Sun International, Tsogo Sun, Rebel Revolution Vape). Virtual Meeting Platform, 17:30 – 20:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Transport: Further Public Hearings on the Merchant Shipping Bill [B12 – 2023]. (for additional written submissions). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture: Briefing by SAFA on their 2023/24 Annual Report, including the latest audited financial statements, governance and other related matters. Update on the progress with scheduling its 33rd Ordinary Congress. Latest developments regarding all the national teams. Update on the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) implementation. Comment on allegations levelled against the president and CEO, as well as SAFA’s inability to pay salaries on time. S35, First Floor, NCOP Building. 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services: Briefing by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services on progress in establishing the bail fund in South Africa. Consideration and adoption of committee minutes. Committee Room 1, 120 Plein Building, 10:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Briefing on the state of companion animal welfare in SA. Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 120 Plein Street. 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Briefing by the Department of Tourism and Tourism Business Council of South Africa regarding preparation and participation in the hosting of G20. Briefing by Small Enterprises Finance Agency on progress report regarding implementation of the Tourism Equity Fund and support to small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by South African Local Government Association on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill. Committee Room 1, Upper Ground, 90 Plein Street. 10:30 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries: Briefing by the City of Johannesburg and the City of Tshwane on the state of sports infrastructure projects and sports programmes in the metros. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Joint meeting of Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources and Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation: Briefing by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) on the RDI programme of initiatives that focus on mineral beneficiation and the Mandela Mining Precinct. S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building. 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation: Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on the Fourth Quarter Expenditure and Performance Report 2024/2025 financial year. Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: Further deliberations on the Immigration Amendment Bill [B-2024]. Virtual Meeting Platform, 13:00 – 14:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Briefing by MG Machalakis, MP on Constitution Nineteenth Amendment Bill [B1-2025]. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
 
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Briefing by the Auditor-General of South Africa on the audit outcomes of the Department of Water and Sanitation. M514, Marks Building. 09:00-13:00
 
WEDNESDAY, 4 JUNE 2025
 
Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development: Deliberations on the statutory appointments of the Deputy Public Protector and Commissioner of the South African Human Rights Commission. Adoption of reports on the suspension of Magistrates. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30
 
Powers and Privileges Committee: Speaker’s referral of an allegation of misconduct against a member of the National Assembly. M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building. 13:00 – 14:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure: Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and Border Management Authority (BMA) on the progress regarding the One-Stop Border Post Project. Follow-up with the IDT. Consideration and adoption of minutes. Venue: M201, Marks Building. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements: Briefing by the Department of Human Settlements on the progress made on First Home Finance and the report by the Minister of Human Settlements on the allegations against the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC) Chief Executive Officer. M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building. 09:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Police: PSIRA 2023/24 Material irregularity (MI) (Qualified audit). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 12:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training: Briefing by Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) on governance, administration, teaching, and learning and related matters. Parliament, Committee Room S12A, NCOP Building. 09:00 – 13:00
 
Joint meeting of the Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries and the Select Committee on Social Services: A report by the Commission on Gender Equality (CGE) on learner pregnancy and the systemic investigation into older persons. Adoption of committee minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 12:30
 
Joint meeting of Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance: Consideration and adoption of the committee report on the Fiscal Framework and Revenue proposals. Venue: TBC. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and South African Local Government Association on the capacity of local government to fulfil its mandate in respect of Local Economic Development. Briefing by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on mechanisms in place to monitor the registration of spaza shops. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration: Briefing by the Minister of the Department of CoGTA on consultation with Kings, headmen and head women on action plans to deal with illegal initiation schools and surgeons, kidnapping, deaths and proposed amendments to the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. Committee Room 1, 120 Plein Building. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition: Engagement with stakeholders from the steel industry about the progress and outcomes of implementing the Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy: Briefing by the Central Energy Fund (CEF), the South African Oil and Gas Association (SAOGA), SASOL, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA) and the Gas Industry and gas exploitation in the country, with a focus on addressing the Gas Cliff. Consideration and adoption of minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 14:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Health: Public Hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill [B33 – 2022] (Smokey Treats and European Rolling Paper). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development: Briefing by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development about the Progress Report on the development of priority legislation, the Equitable Access to Land Bill, and the Communal Land Tenure Bill. The department will further present the highlights of the Bill, its objectives and key policy proposals, as well as the challenges the legislation seeks to address. Committee Room 2, NSFAS building, 16th floor. 09:30 – 13:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Social Development: Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the third and fourth term quarterly report on the financial and non-financial performance for the 2024/25 financial year (October - December 2024 and January – March 2025). Briefing by the Department of Social Development on progress made in the drafting of a Universal Basic Income Grant (BIG) policy. M515, Fifth Floor, Marks Building. 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour: DEL and UIF to Update the Portfolio Committee on the Labour Activation Programme (LAP). Consideration for adoption of the draft minutes of 21 May 2025. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the South African Local Government Association on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill. Committee Room 1, Upper Ground, 90 Plein Street. 10:30-13:00
 
Standing Committee on Public Accounts: Briefing by the SIU on Investigations into the Department of Water and Sanitation. M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building. 09:00 – 14:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Report on the utilisation of categories of leave in the public service: Facts, observations and recommendations by the Public Service Commission. Report by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the employment of youth in the public service. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: Visit to the Armscor Dockyard in Simon’s Town, Cape Town, to review facilities. Briefing by Armscor on current and planned naval contracts. Briefing by the SA Navy on naval contracts managed by Armscor. Simons Town, Armscor Dockyard. 10:00 – 13:00
  
THURSDAY, 5 JUNE 2025
Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration: Briefing by HAWKS, SIU and NPA on the status of criminal cases, investigations and prosecutions to deal with illegal initiation schools and surgeons, kidnapping, deaths, and proposed amendments to the Customary Initiation Act of 2021. Virtual Platform After Plenary, 14:00 – 18:00.
 
FRIDAY, 6 JUNE 2025
Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests: CLOSED MEETING. M314, Third Floor, Marks Building. 10:00 – 15:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Statistics South Africa and Brand SA briefings on Budget Vote 14 and their 2025 Annual Performance Plan tabled in Parliament. Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation briefing on Budget Vote 9 and tabled Strategic and Annual Performance Plan. Committee Room 1, Upper Ground, 90 Plein Street Building. 09:30
 
 

Issued by Parliament