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Permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will conclude the business of the second parliamentary programme this week, by wrapping up policy debates, consideration of the Appropriation Bill and committee meetings featuring on this week’s agenda.
 
On Tuesday at 14:00 the NCOP will hold a policy debate on Budget Vote 36: Small Business Development. On Wednesday at 09:00, the House will consider the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill and the Appropriation Bill.
 
The Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill amends the original Eskom Debt Relief Act of 2023 to introduce interest payments on loans provided to Eskom, instead of the original interest-free loan structure. The amendments also empower the Minister of Finance to reduce the loan amount in case of non-compliance with conditions.
 
The Appropriation Bill provides for the appropriation of funds from the National Revenue Fund for the 2025/26 financial year. It outlines allocations to national departments and public entities. It also includes transfers to provinces and municipalities through conditional grants, equitable shares and other funding mechanisms to support the fulfilment of their constitutional obligations.
 
This year, South Africa holds the G20 Presidency, along with this, Parliament will hold the P20 Summit – a gathering of Speakers and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries. The P20 serves as the parliamentary dimension of the G20, aiming to strengthen global legislative collaboration on key development issues.
 
As part of the buildup to the 11th P20 Speakers’ Summit to be held in September, Parliament will this week host the P20 Symposium for African Continent’s Speakers of Parliaments.
The Symposium will be held alongside the Fifth Ordinary Session of the 6th Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), on Monday, 28 July at the Pan African Parliament, Midrand in Johannesburg.
 
The event is expected to bring together top parliamentary leaders from across the continent to strengthen collaboration and accelerate progress on Africa’s development goals.
 
It will serve as a platform for Presiding Officers of African Parliaments to engage in high-level dialogue, exchange ideas, and share experiences on effective parliamentary action. A key focus is on how parliaments can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and deepen continental integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
 
Speakers will also explore opportunities to maximise the impact of South Africa’s G20 Presidency. Discussions will centre on how to align parliamentary efforts at regional and global levels, particularly through platforms such as the P20 and the P20 Women Parliamentarians' forum.
 
The Symposium will highlight the vital role of parliamentary leadership in building a more united, prosperous, and globally connected Africa.
 
Members of the National Assembly have been on constituency period since Thursday last week. Members of the National Council of Provinces will begin their constituency period after concluding their programme this week.
 
Constituency period provides Members of Parliament with an opportunity to engage directly with communities through their constituency offices that exist across the country. This period is essential as it facilitates meaningful interaction between elected representatives and the public they represent.
 
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs wraps up its Free State leg of public hearings on the Marriage Bill in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality today.

The Marriage Bill seeks to rationalise the marriage laws of various types of marriages. The Bill introduces a single marriage statute to replace the three existing marriage laws governing civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions.
 
Meanwhile, there are four committee meetings scheduled this week, as outlined below:
 
TUESDAY, 22 JULY 2025
 
Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources: Briefing by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development: The High level Panel recommended that the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) and the Labour Tenants Act be amended, but with the main recommendation that these Acts must be properly enforced, particularly the neglected redistributive components. Venue: M46, Ground floor, Marks Building, 10:00-13:00
 
Select Committee on Public Infrastructure & Minister in the Presidency: Briefings by the Department of Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Public Service Commission, and the Auditor General of South Africa, on assessments undertaken in respect of the implementation of the Accommodation Programme under the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, 19 of 2007 (GIAMA) with a focus on implementation gaps and recommendations for legislative reforms: Assessment undertaken by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation. Assessment undertaken by the Public Service Commission. Assessment undertaken by the Auditor General of South Africa. Venue: M514, Fifth floor, Marks Building, 10:00 – 13:00.
 
Select Committee on Appropriations: Consideration of the draft Report on the 2025 Appropriation Bill, Consideration of the draft Report on the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill [B4-2025], S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building, 10:00-13:00
 
Select Committee on Education and Creative industries: Briefing by Department of Higher Education on schools accommodating learners with disabilities at Early Childhood Development, Primary and High School level including the training provided to educators on dealing with learners living with disabilities, Consideration and adoption of Draft Minutes. Virtual Meeting Platform 10:00 – 13:00
 
 

Issued by Parliament