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This week, budget vote debates in the National Assembly (NA) and policy debates in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will take centre stage in Parliament. 
 
The budget vote debates enable Parliament to formally discuss and provide input on departmental plans and budget allocations, as parliamentary oversight is a cornerstone of democracy. Additionally, these debates keep Parliament and the public informed about the activities of government departments and entities, their performance and how public funds are spent. Encouraging meaningful public participation and robust parliamentary oversight in budget processes fosters social ownership of the budget, enhances the effective allocation of funds and minimises waste.
 
Ministers and Deputy Ministers present the budget on behalf of their departments and entities. Thereafter, Members of Parliament and delegates to the NCOP debate the budget in their respective plenaries. Multiple NA budget vote debates take place simultaneously at different physical venues in Parliament. Once each budget has been debated, both Houses—the NA and the NCOP—must vote on the entire budget.
 
NA mini-plenaries
The budget vote debates in the NA began last Friday. These debates take place in mini-plenaries, which are breakaway sessions of the National Assembly. On Tuesday, there will be two mini-plenaries focusing on the following votes: Vote 22 for Correctional Services and Vote 27 for the Office of the Chief Justice.
 
Wednesday's schedule includes five mini-plenaries, covering Vote 40 on Transport, Vote 14 on Statistics South Africa, Vote 33 on Human Settlements, and Votes 11, 7, and 12 on Public Service and Administration, the National School of Government and the Public Service Commission. It will also include Vote 34 on Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
 
On Thursday, there will be four mini-plenaries: Vote 17 on Higher Education, Vote 31 on Employment and Labour, Vote 6 on International Relations and Cooperation, and Vote 20 on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. 
 
On Friday, there will be three mini-plenaries during the morning session for Votes 28, 24 and 21 related to the Police, including the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the Civilian Secretariat for the Police Service, and Vote 39 on Trade, Industry, and Competition. Vote 4 of Government Communications and Information System will take place in the afternoon.
 
NCOP Budget Policy Debates
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) plays a crucial and unique role in ensuring that provincial interests are taken into account within the national government framework, including budget allocations, among others. Policy debates will start in the NCOP on Tuesday, during a plenary sitting of the House. On Tuesday, the NCOP will hold a hybrid plenary for the Policy Debate on Budget Vote 17, which focuses on Higher Education. Additionally, the NCOP will consider committee reports and legislation during this sitting.
 
During its plenary sitting on Wednesday, the NCOP will engage in a Policy Debate on Budget Vote 3, which pertains to Cooperative Governance. Committee reports and legislation will also be considered at this session.
 
Two Policy Debates on are scheduled on Thursday, focusing on Vote 5 for Home Affairs and Vote 40 for Transport on Friday. Legislation and committee reports will also be discussed during this session.
 
Public hearings
The Standing Committee on Appropriations is scheduled to hold virtual public hearings on the 2025 Eskom Debt Amendment Bill and the 2025 Appropriation Bill on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, from 09:00 to 13:00. The 2025 Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Eskom Debt Relief Act of 2023 to provide, among other things, for the reduction of the amount for the requirements for Eskom for the 2025/26 financial year and to treat the whole amount for that year as a loan convertible into equity upon meeting conditions. 
 
The 2025 Appropriation Bill aims to allocate funds from the National Revenue Fund (NRF) to meet the state's needs for the 2025/26 financial year. The 2025 Appropriation Bill does not only appropriate money for the requirements for the current financial year but also prescribes conditions for the spending of the funds withdrawn for the 2026/27 financial year before the commencement of the Appropriation Act and for matters incidental to it.
 
The Standing Committee on Finance will also hold virtual public hearings on the South African Reserve Bank Amendment Bill on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, from 09:00 to 13:00. This Bill - a Private Members Bill introduced by a member of the National Assembly, Mr Julius Malema aims to amend the South African Reserve Bank Act, primarily to make the state the sole shareholder of the bank's shares. It also grants the Minister of Finance the authority to exercise the rights associated with these shares on behalf of the state. Additionally, the Bill seeks to empower the Minister of Finance to appoint directors to the board rather than allowing board members to be elected at an ordinary general meeting.
 
The are 31 committee meetings scheduled this week. They include, among others: 
 
TUESDAY, 1 JULY 2025
 
Powers and Privileges Committee: Consideration of draft agenda, draft minutes of 2 April 2025 and matters arising. Hon. V. G. Reddy referred to the committee. Audi letter (a letter that informs a member of allegations and invites them to provide their side of the story based on the principle of audi alteram partem) sent to Hon Reddy and his reply. Referral of Hon M V Daniels to the committee. Audi letter sent to Hon Daniels. M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building. 11:00 – 12:30
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing on the Strategic Plan of the Department of Police and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Services. Venue: TBC. 10:00 - 13:00
 
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform on their APP and Budget Vote. Consideration and adoption of Minutes. M314, Marks Building. 10:00-13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: To engage with the Government Printing Works on the revised Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plan. Engagement with the presentation of the DHA on ICT projects and deliberation on Vote 5 of the Department of Home Affairs. Consideration and adoption of the outstanding minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure and Minister in the Presidency: Briefing by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on its Strategic Plan, 2025/26, Annual Performance Plan and 2025/26 Estimates of National Expenditure (Budget). Consideration of the Final Mandates on the Marine Oil (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries: Briefing by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation on the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan and 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan. Consideration and adoption of Draft Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00 
 
Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs: Engagement with the GPW briefing on the revised Strategic Plan and the Annual Performance Plan, engagement with the presentation of the DHA on ICT projects and deliberation on Vote 5 of the Department of Home Affairs. Consideration and adoption of the outstanding minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform,10:00 – 13:00 
 
Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: Briefing by the South African Weather Service on their Third and Fourth Quarter Reports for the 2024/25 financial year. Briefing by the South African National Parks on their Third and Fourth Quarter Reports for the 2024/25 financial year. Adoption of minutes. Adoption of Committee Budget Vote Report. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 12:30 
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Briefing by the Department of Social Development on the 2025 Appropriation Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Minerals and Petroleum Resources: Briefing by Minerals Council on issues pertaining to mining. Consideration and adoption of a report on Petition by Mr G Craythorn on allegations of corruption at Alexkor. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 13:00 
 
Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Briefing on the revised 2025/26 Annual Performance Plans (APPs) and Budget allocation by the following: Department of Agriculture (DoA), National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC), Agricultural Research Council (ARC), and South African Veterinary Council (SAVC). Committee Room 1, Upper Ground Floor, 90 Plein Street. 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services: Briefing by the Department of Correctional Services on the use of consultants and update on the establishment of bakeries in correctional centres, including the cost breakdown of bread supply by external suppliers versus internal supply. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Public hearings on the Revenue Laws Amendment Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00 
 
Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation: Briefing by the Department of Water and Sanitation on the detailed roadmap for the disestablishment of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority and its transfer to the South African National Water Resources Infrastructure Agency SOC Limited. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 12:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities: Briefing by the Council for Gender Equality (CGE) on Strategic Plan 2025 - 2030 and Annual Performance Plan for 2025/26. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
WEDNESDAY, 2 JULY 2025
 
Select Committee on Security and Justice: Briefing by the Ministry and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate on their Strategic Plans Venue: TBC. 10:00 – 13:00 
 
Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade: Briefing by the Department of Tourism on the Tourism Equity Fund. M314, Third Floor, Marks Building. 10:00 – 13:00
 
Select Committee on Social Services: To receive a briefing from the Department of Social Development on the Strategic Plan, 2025/26 Annual Performance Plan and Budget Vote. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 12:30
 
Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration: Briefing by Limpopo MEC of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the progress made in respect of the implementation of the invocation of section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution in Thabazimbi Local Municipality. Virtual Meeting Platform, 14:00 – 18:00
 
Standing Committee on Appropriations: Public hearings on 2025 Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill, 2025 Appropriation Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00- 13:00
 
Standing Committee on Finance: Public hearings on the South African Reserve Bank Amendment Bill. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development: Consideration and adoption of Budget Vote Report. Consideration of outstanding committee minutes. Briefing by the Department on CPA complaints - North-West Province: Ramotlakane CPA and Bakwena Ba Modimosana (Rampe Royal family). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:30
 
FRIDAY, 4 JULY 2025
 
Joint meeting of Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies and the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Update on schools’ connectivity. Virtual Meeting Platform, 13:00 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: For consideration of the PCDMV 2025 Budget Report. Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
 
 

Issued by Parliament