The South African Parliament’s agenda this week includes ministerial statements, national debates, oral question sessions, committee meetings, and review of Budgetary Review and Recommendation Reports (BRRR). These activities mark the National Assembly’s (NA) return from constituency work, beginning with a plenary session on Tuesday at 10:00. Key discussions will feature a statement from the Minister of Water and Sanitation on water security, and a debate on the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, highlighting 30 years of women’s democratic rights and unity against violence.

Later on Tuesday, at 14:00, ministers from the Peace and Security Cluster, including departments such as Correctional Services, Home Affairs, Police, and Justice, will respond to questions in the NA. This session will conclude with the BRRRs from various committees, including those on International Relations and Cooperative Governance. Concurrently, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold a debate on infrastructure development in local government, followed by motions and committee reports.

On Wednesday at 15:00, Social Services Cluster ministers, covering departments such as Health, Education, and Social Development, will answer questions in the NA. Additionally, the assembly will consider the 2024 Revised Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals.

Thursday’s NA session at 15:00 includes a statement from the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure regarding project delays, and questions to Governance Cluster 3, which oversees departments such as Cooperative Governance, Public Service, and the Presidency. The NCOP will also meet at 14:00 to discuss the Revised Fiscal Framework and issues like measures to combat extortion and criminal influence on township and rural economies. The week concludes on Friday with NA mini-plenaries debating national issues from 10:00 to 13:00.

In committee work, 26 meetings are scheduled. Highlights include:

• Tuesday, 12 November: A briefing on the Department of Basic Education’s 2023/2024 Annual Report and a Cooperative Governance briefing on substantive matters raised in a petition to the NCOP.
• Wednesday, 13 November: Discussions on outcomes from the BRICS Summit, SAPS technology for crime reduction, and renewable energy programs, among others.
• Thursday, 14 November: National Treasury’s presentation on revenue amendments, and the election of co-chairpersons for the Joint Committee on Ethics.
• Friday, 15 November: SALGA’s comments on the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill and a briefing on alleged irregularities in a major tender at SITA by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies.