Parliament, Sunday, 8 December 2024 – This week, the Speaker of the National Assembly (NA), Ms. Thoko Didiza, leads a multiparty delegation to the 56th Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) Plenary Assembly, taking place in Livingstone, Zambia, from 8 to 15 December 2024.

The SADC-PF, established in 1997, serves as a regional inter-parliamentary body comprising 15 member parliaments, representing over 3,500 parliamentarians from the SADC region. The member parliaments include Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The Forum aims to strengthen regional cooperation and integration by sharing best practices among member parliaments in alignment with the SADC Treaty and the Forum Constitution.

South Africa’s delegation includes Mr. Kenneth Mmoiemang, Chief Whip of the NCOP; Ms. Sylvia Lucas (ANC); Mr. Bonginkosi Madikizela (DA); and Mr. David Skosana (uMkhonto Wesiwe Party). This marks the delegation’s first attendance since the national and provincial elections in May 2024.

The Plenary Assembly, the highest policy-making and deliberative body of the SADC-PF, convenes biannually on a rotational hosting basis. This year’s theme, “Leveraging Technology and Innovation for Smart, Inclusive and Responsive Parliaments in the SADC Region,” underscores the focus on modernizing parliamentary functions to enhance inclusivity and responsiveness.

Parliamentary Agenda for the Week

At Parliament in Cape Town, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold its final sittings for the year on Tuesday and Wednesday, following the National Assembly’s conclusion of business on Thursday, 5 December. Members of both Houses will begin constituency leave on Friday, 13 December.

NCOP Sittings:

Tuesday, 10 December, 14:00

• Consideration of four bills:
  • Older Persons Amendment Bill
  • Special Appropriation Bill
  • Global Minimum Tax Bill
  • Global Minimum Tax Administration Bill
• Additional items for consideration:
  • Report of the Select Committee on Security and Justice on its oversight visit to Pollsmoor Correctional Centre (11 September 2024).
  • Three-Sphere Planning Report.

Wednesday, 11 December, 9:30

• Consideration of the Adjustments Appropriation Bill.
• Report of the Select Committee on Appropriations on the Proposed Division of Revenue and Conditional Grant Allocations to Provinces and Local Government.
• Concluding the year’s business with farewell speeches by provincial delegates.

NCOP Committee Meetings:

Tuesday, 10 December

1. Select Committee on Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy
   • Briefing by the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on Provincial Conditional Grants:
     • Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management (EEDSM) Grant
     • Electrification and Energy Programme and Project Management
   • Consideration and adoption of minutes.
   • Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00
2. Select Committee on Appropriations
   • Consideration and adoption of reports on the 2024 Adjustments Appropriation Bill, any other tabled bills, and the proposed division of revenue and conditional grant allocations to provinces and local government.
   • Virtual Meeting Platform, 10:00 – 13:00

Issued by: The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa