Budget and Policy Debates Dominate Parliamentary Agenda This Week

Cape Town, Sunday, 29 June 2025 — Parliament enters a critical week with a packed programme of budget vote debates in the National Assembly (NA) and policy debates in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), alongside a series of high-level committee meetings and public hearings.

Parliamentary spokesperson Moloto Mothapo has provided a soundbite outlining the week’s key activities, available here: Listen.

National Assembly: Budget Vote Debates in Mini-Plenaries

The NA will continue its budget vote debates this week, building on sessions that began last Friday. These debates are held in mini-plenaries, which function as smaller breakaway sessions of the Assembly and are essential to parliamentary oversight, a core tenet of South Africa’s democracy.

Ministers and Deputy Ministers will present their respective departmental budgets, followed by deliberations by Members of Parliament. The discussions are aimed at assessing government performance, financial accountability, and the allocation of public funds.

Key debates scheduled this week include:

• Tuesday, 1 July:
  • Vote 22 – Correctional Services
  • Vote 27 – Office of the Chief Justice

• Wednesday, 2 July:
  • Vote 40 – Transport
  • Vote 14 – Statistics South Africa
  • Vote 33 – Human Settlements
  • Votes 11, 7, 12 – Public Service & Administration, National School of Government, Public Service Commission
  • Vote 34 – Mineral and Petroleum Resources

• Thursday, 3 July:
  • Vote 17 – Higher Education
  • Vote 31 – Employment and Labour
  • Vote 6 – International Relations and Cooperation
  • Vote 20 – Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

• Friday, 4 July:
  • Votes 28, 24, 21 – Police, IPID, and Civilian Secretariat for Police
  • Vote 39 – Trade, Industry and Competition
  • Vote 4 – Government Communications and Information System

NCOP: Budget Policy Debates

In the NCOP, where provincial interests are central, budget policy debates will also unfold. These debates allow NCOP delegates to examine departmental strategies from a provincial lens.

• Tuesday, 1 July: Debate on Budget Vote 17 – Higher Education

• Wednesday, 2 July: Debate on Budget Vote 3 – Cooperative Governance

• Thursday, 3 July: Debate on Budget Vote 5 – Home Affairs

• Friday, 4 July: Debate on Budget Vote 40 – Transport

Each session will also include the consideration of committee reports and draft legislation.

Public Hearings: Eskom, Appropriation, and Reserve Bank Bills

Public input is being prioritised this week with virtual public hearings scheduled on several key bills:

• Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill (2025): The Bill seeks to revise the Eskom Debt Relief Act of 2023, potentially converting allocated funds into equity, pending performance-based conditions.

• 2025 Appropriation Bill: This allocates funding from the National Revenue Fund and sets conditions for early expenditure into the 2026/27 financial year.

• South African Reserve Bank Amendment Bill: A Private Members Bill by EFF leader Mr Julius Malema, proposing state ownership of all Reserve Bank shares and granting appointment powers to the Minister of Finance.

All hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, 2 July, between 09:00 and 13:00.

Parliamentary Committee Work: 31 Meetings Across Both Houses

Thirty-one parliamentary committees will convene this week to consider strategic plans, departmental performance, legislation, and oversight reports. Key sessions include:

Tuesday, 1 July:

• Home Affairs: Deliberations on ICT projects and Vote 5

• Appropriations: Briefing by the Department of Social Development

• Agriculture: Review of APPs and budget allocations

• Environment, Forestry and Fisheries: Review of quarterly performance reports

• Correctional Services: Update on bakery projects and consultant use

• Minerals and Petroleum Resources: Mining sector concerns and petitions

• Water and Sanitation: Disestablishment of the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority

Wednesday, 2 July:

• Finance and Appropriations: Public hearings on the Reserve Bank and Eskom Bills

• Land Reform and Rural Development: Complaints regarding CPAs in North West Province

• Economic Development: Update on the Tourism Equity Fund

• Social Services: Strategic briefing from the Department of Social Development

Friday, 4 July:

• Joint Meeting – Communications & Basic Education: Progress on schools’ digital connectivity

• Defence and Military Veterans: Budget report review

A Week of Democratic Engagement

This intense week of activity underlines Parliament’s central role in holding the executive accountable, shaping policy, and ensuring fiscal transparency. With public hearings, budget votes, and committee meetings all in play, South Africans are encouraged to follow proceedings and participate where possible.