Parliament Wraps Up Key Legislative Work as NCOP Concludes Second Term Programme

Cape Town, Sunday, 27 July 2025 — The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will bring the second parliamentary programme to a close this week, with a full agenda that includes policy debates, legislative considerations, and committee engagements.

On Tuesday at 14:00, the NCOP will debate Budget Vote 36: Small Business Development. The following day, on Wednesday at 09:00, the House will deliberate on two major pieces of legislation: the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill and the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

The Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill introduces critical changes to the original 2023 Act, replacing the interest-free loan structure with interest-bearing loans. It also grants the Minister of Finance authority to reduce loan amounts in cases of non-compliance with funding conditions.

The Appropriation Bill outlines the allocation of funds from the National Revenue Fund for the 2025/26 financial year, detailing budgetary provisions for national departments, public entities, provinces, and municipalities. It supports service delivery through equitable shares and conditional grants.

As South Africa assumes the G20 Presidency this year, Parliament is preparing to host the 11th P20 Speakers’ Summit in September. In the lead-up to this global event, a P20 Symposium for African Speakers of Parliament will take place on Monday, 28 July, at the Pan-African Parliament in Midrand, Johannesburg. The symposium is being held alongside the Fifth Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).

The event will bring together senior parliamentary leaders from across Africa to discuss collaboration on continental development priorities, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Deliberations will also explore aligning parliamentary efforts with South Africa’s G20 agenda and the role of platforms like the P20 Women Parliamentarians’ Forum.

National Assembly members entered constituency period last week, with NCOP members set to follow after this week’s proceedings. The constituency period allows MPs to engage directly with citizens through their local offices, strengthening public participation and accountability.

Meanwhile, the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs is concluding the Free State leg of public hearings on the Marriage Bill in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality. The Bill seeks to unify South Africa’s marriage legislation under a single legal framework, replacing the three existing laws governing civil, customary, and civil union marriages.

Committee Meetings Scheduled for This Week:

Tuesday, 22 July 2025

• Select Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Mineral Resources
  Briefing by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development on the enforcement of the Extension of Security of Tenure Act (ESTA) and the Labour Tenants Act.
  Venue: M46, Ground Floor, Marks Building | Time: 10:00–13:00

• Select Committee on Public Infrastructure & Minister in the Presidency
  Briefings from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, the Public Service Commission, and the Auditor-General on the Accommodation Programme under the Government Immovable Asset Management Act (GIAMA).
  Venue: M514, Fifth Floor, Marks Building | Time: 10:00–13:00

• Select Committee on Appropriations
  Consideration of draft reports on the 2025 Appropriation Bill and the Eskom Debt Relief Amendment Bill.
  Venue: S12A, Ground Floor, NCOP Building | Time: 10:00–13:00

• Select Committee on Education and Creative Industries
  Briefing by the Department of Higher Education on disability inclusion in Early Childhood, Primary, and High School education; also covers educator training. Adoption of draft minutes included.
  Platform: Virtual Meeting | Time: 10:00–13:00