A New Dawn: South African Parliament Resumes for 2024

The South African Parliament is resuming for the first term of 2024, with a packed schedule including a two-day legislative sector oversight summit, the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech, committee assemblies, and public hearings. The sector oversight summit aims to assess the effectiveness of legislative sector oversight, public involvement, and law-making, and features keynote speakers such as Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo. The Parliament is committed to shaping a brighter future for its citizens and reflecting the country’s powerful democratic spirit, with the world watching their progress.

What is the South African Parliament Sector Oversight Summit?

The South African Parliament Sector Oversight Summit is a two-day event that aims to assess the effectiveness of legislative sector oversight, public involvement, and law-making. It brings together key individuals from the National Assembly, National Council of Provinces, and provincial legislatures to learn from experiences and exchange insights with international peers on superior oversight practices. Keynote speakers include Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

Anticipating the Future

Emerging from their six-week hiatus, the South African Parliament members are primed for the challenging first term of 2024. The dawn of a new period unveils a hectic schedule for them, a blend of a two-day legislative sector oversight summit, the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech, committee assemblies, and public hearings. These events collectively form a theatrical scene that will determine South Africa’s prospect.

The heart of these proceedings is the two-day sector oversight summit, planned for Tuesday, 30 January to Wednesday, 31 January. The summit is a brainchild of the Speaker’s Forum of South Africa, the organization responsible for supervising legislative sector endeavours. Its ambitious theme echoes the hopes of a nation: “Striving for Oversight that ensures the realisation of a better life for all South Africans”.

The Summit – A Crucible of Power

The forum presents a vibrant amalgamation of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, along with the Speakers and Deputy Speakers of all nine provincial legislatures. The fusion of these individual strands of authority into a unified body of leadership is co-chaired by the Speaker of the National Assembly and Chairperson of the NCOP.

The 2024 South African Legislative Sector Oversight Summit symbolizes the nation’s resolve to assess the effectiveness of the legislative sector in meeting its constitutional obligations of oversight, public involvement, and law-making. Its purpose is to explore transformative strategies for stronger sector oversight, learn from experiences, and exchange insights with international peers on superior oversight practices.

Keynote Speakers and Guests

Deputy President Paul Mashatile is scheduled to deliver a keynote address, with Chief Justice Raymond Zondo offering his viewpoint on oversight. The European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Ms Sandra Kramer, will also lend an international dimension to the summit.

Key individuals slated to participate in the dialogue about oversight effectiveness and potential collaborations feature Dr Tulia Ackson, President of the Interparliamentary Union (IPU), and Speaker of Parliament of Tanzania, Prof. Elena Griglio, the Senior Parliamentary Official of the Italian Senate, and Ms Ntombi Mekgwe, Speaker of Gauteng Legislature.

Preparations and Meetings

As part of the preparations for the 2024 State of the Nation Address, Parliamentarians will participate in a workshop focusing on recent amendments to the Joint Rules of Parliament. Simultaneously, the parliamentary committees of both houses have planned three significant meetings. Among these, the Powers and Privileges Committee will review the Ethics report on Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, while the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will present its programme for the term.

In alignment with its commitment to public involvement in the law-making process, certain parliamentary committees have recommenced public hearings on critical bills. In a forward-looking move towards energy reform, the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy has commenced public hearings on the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill. The Portfolio Committee on Health is also seeking public input on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.

A Week of Challenges and Democratic Spirit

The week promises to be demanding. The South African Parliament, in its mission to shape a brighter future for its citizens, is prepared to tackle the tasks at hand. As representatives assemble from across the nation, the Parliament building corridors will echo with discussions, debates, and decisive actions, reflecting the country’s powerful democratic spirit.

Indeed, democracy’s work is never finished, and the gears of Parliament continue to rotate. As the members brace themselves for the challenges of the forthcoming term, the nation – and indeed the world – will be observing them, awaiting the path that lies ahead.

1. What is the South African Parliament Sector Oversight Summit?

The South African Parliament Sector Oversight Summit is a two-day event that aims to assess the effectiveness of legislative sector oversight, public involvement, and law-making. It brings together key individuals from the National Assembly, National Council of Provinces, and provincial legislatures to learn from experiences and exchange insights with international peers on superior oversight practices. Keynote speakers include Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.

2. What events are included in the South African Parliament’s 2024 first term schedule?

The events included in the South African Parliament’s 2024 first term schedule are a two-day legislative sector oversight summit, the State of the Nation Address, the Budget Speech, committee assemblies, and public hearings.

3. What is the purpose of the South African Parliament’s legislative sector oversight summit?

The purpose of the South African Parliament’s legislative sector oversight summit is to assess the effectiveness of the legislative sector in meeting its constitutional obligations of oversight, public involvement, and law-making. Its goal is to explore transformative strategies for stronger sector oversight, learn from experiences, and exchange insights with international peers on superior oversight practices.

4. Who are some keynote speakers and guests attending the South African Parliament’s legislative sector oversight summit?

Some keynote speakers and guests attending the South African Parliament’s legislative sector oversight summit are Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Dr Tulia Ackson (President of the Interparliamentary Union), Speaker of Parliament of Tanzania Prof. Elena Griglio, Senior Parliamentary Official of the Italian Senate, and European Union Ambassador to South Africa, Ms Sandra Kramer.

5. What are some of the parliamentary committees’ activities during the South African Parliament’s 2024 first term?

Some of the parliamentary committees’ activities during the South African Parliament’s 2024 first term include reviewing the Ethics report on Mr Mosebenzi Zwane, presenting the programme for the term in the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, and commencing public hearings on critical bills such as the Electricity Regulation Amendment Bill and the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill.

6. What is the South African Parliament’s overall goal for the 2024 first term?

The South African Parliament’s overall goal for the 2024 first term is to shape a brighter future for its citizens and reflect the country’s powerful democratic spirit. The Parliament is committed to tackling challenges and carrying out decisive actions to achieve this goal.