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The National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) strategic planning session, plenary sittings, and committee meetings are among the key highlights on Parliament’s programme for the week ahead.
 
On Tuesday at 11:00, the NCOP will convene a strategic planning session to assess progress and challenges in executing its constitutional mandate. The session will, among other things, reflect on the performance of committees and participation in international engagements. It will also identify key emerging priorities to strengthen the work of the institution for the remainder of the 7th Parliament.
 
The session will also provide a platform to consider whether adjustments are required to the 2026/2027 Annual Performance Plan and to the committee plans for the financial year. Participants will include Presiding Officers, Chairpersons of committees, the Chief Whip, provincial whips, the programming whip, party whips, party representatives, and all Permanent Delegates to the NCOP. This session builds on the planning engagements held following the 2024 general elections, which informed the Strategic Plan, Annual Performance Plan and Budget of the 7th Parliament.
 
Also on Tuesday, the National Assembly (NA) will convene a plenary sitting at 14:00. Items on the agenda include a debate on International Mother Language Day, as well as the consideration of committee reports and legislation.
 
On Wednesday, the NCOP will hold a plenary sitting at 14:00, featuring debates on Commonwealth Day, under the theme “Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth”. There will also be a debate on International Women’s Day under the theme “Recentering social justice and human rights for women and girls”. Legislation and committee reports will also be considered.
 
In the NA on Wednesday, Ministers in the Peace and Security Cluster will appear for oral questions at 15:00. The cluster comprises Ministers responsible for Correctional Services, Defence and Military Veterans, Home Affairs, International Relations and Cooperation, Justice and Constitutional Development, Police, as well as the Minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security.
 
On Thursday, Deputy President Paul Mashatile will appear before the NCOP to respond to questions from NCOP delegates. Among the issues to be addressed are the decline of the rail transport system, measures to combat corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), illegal mining in the East and West Rand, the state of municipalities, and challenges related to distressed or dysfunctional municipalities, including incomplete or abandoned water infrastructure projects.
 
In terms of Section 92(2) of the Constitution, members of the Cabinet are accountable collectively and individually to Parliament for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions. One of the key mechanisms Parliament uses to exercise oversight is through oral and written questions directed to members of the Executive.
 
Also on Thursday at 14:00, the NA will hold plenary sittings for the consideration of legislation and committee reports, as well as scheduled debates.
 
The sittings will be preceded by programming committee meetings of both Houses, which will convene at 08:30, respectively, to plan the business of Parliament. The meetings will, among other things, consider the draft programmes of the two Houses, receive committee reports and consider the bills before each House.
On Friday, the National Assembly will conclude the week’s programme with mini-plenary sessions scheduled from 10:00 to 13:00.
 
There are 31 committee meetings scheduled for this week. They are:
 
TUESDAY, 3 MARCH 2026

Portfolio Committee on Agriculture: Receiving an update from the Department of Agriculture (DoA) on the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak and interventions to control the spread of the disease. Briefing on the 2025/26 Quarter 1 and Quarter 2 Performance and Expenditure Reports and progress on the implementation of Audit Improvement Plans by the DoA and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). Committee Room 1, 90 Plein Street, Upper Ground, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services: Briefing from the Department of Correctional Services on litigation involving the Department of Correctional Services, inmate classification processes and the Gang Management Strategy. Committee Room 1, 120 Plein Street Building, 09:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation: Briefing from the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) on its 2024 Consensus Study: Achieving Good Governance and Management in the South African Health System. Virtual Platform Meeting, 09:30 – 12:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Basic Education: Briefing by the Department of Basic Education on the analysis, implications and impact of the President’s SONA 2026. Engagement on School Infrastructure Backlogs, Maintenance and Upkeep. ECD strategies, capacity and funding by the Department of Basic Education, Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and National Treasury. Consideration of draft minutes and draft reports. Zoom Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 12:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Tourism: Briefing by the Department of Tourism on the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan. Consideration and adoption of the draft oversight report. Consideration and adoption of draft minutes. Virtual Platform Meeting, 09:00 – 13:00
 
WEDNESDAY, 4 MARCH 2026

Portfolio Committee on Health: Meeting for further responses by the Department of Health on the issues raised by stakeholders during public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill [B33-2022]. Briefing by the Minister of Health on the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI). Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration: Briefing on the Insourcing Bill [B19 - 2025] by the author Ms O Maotwe, MP. Briefing by the organisations or individuals on the public comments received by the author of the Bill. Consideration and adoption of the previous committee minutes. Parliament, Committee room 1, Ground Floor, 90 Plein Building, 10:00 – 13:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Police: Briefing by the South African Police Service on the deployment of the SANDF in support of SAPS operations, including deployment to the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape. Virtual Meeting Platform, 08:00 – 10:30
 
Portfolio Committee on Small Business Development: Briefing on progress on Spaza Shops Funding. DSBD on Spaza Shops supported and progress in the implementation of the Spaza Shops Fund, and COGTA on progress in the issuing of Spaza Shops licenses. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:30 – 14:00
 
Joint Meeting of Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance: Public hearings on the 2026 Budget (Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals), Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 13:00
 
THURSDAY, 5 MARCH 2026

Portfolio Committee on Health: Briefing by the Free State Provincial Department of Health on stagnant audit outcomes and progress in the implementation of audit action plans. Virtual Meeting Platform, 17:30 – 20:30
 
FRIDAY, 6 MARCH 2026

Ad Hoc Committee on the Review and Amendment of the Parliamentary Villages Management Board Act (No. 96 of 1998): Presentation from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure on: (i) A five-year (historical) budget and expenditure for all costs associated with each of the Villages. (ii) The factors informing its determination of the rental amounts (including subsidisation and sliding scale determination). (iii) An assessment of the composition and functioning of the Parliamentary Villages Management Board over the past five years. (iv) Identification of legislative and policy gaps. Committee Room 3042, Third Floor, 90 Plein Street, Parliament, 09:30 – 13:00
 
Joint Standing Committee on Defence: Briefing by the NCACC on its 2025 Annual Report. Feedback on outstanding NCACC responses to the committee. Briefing by the SANDF on its state of preparedness for domestic deployment with the SAPS (SONA Announcement). Parliament, Committee Room S12A, Old Assembly Building, 09:00 – 15:00
 
Joint Meeting of Standing Committee on Finance and Select Committee on Finance: Response from National Treasury and SARS to the submissions received on the 2026 Budget Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals. Virtual Meeting Platform, 09:00 – 12:00
 
Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies: Joint sitting with the Standing Committee on Appropriations to outline alternative funding models for SOEs (SABC, SAPO, Postbank, ICASA) to ensure financial sustainability and reduce reliance on bailouts. Virtual Platform Meeting, 09:00 – 13:00
 

Issued by Parliament