President Cyril Ramaphosa will answer questions in the National Assembly this week as Parliament turns its attention to municipal governance, South Africa’s international standing and the work of the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
President Ramaphosa is scheduled to answer questions for oral reply at 2pm on Tuesday.
Among the issues expected to come under scrutiny are measures to restore South Africa’s credibility as a Pan-African voice amid protests against foreign nationals, as well as structural reforms aimed at improving municipal capacity, accountability and the delivery of basic services.
The Mkhwanazi committee will also be a key focus. It is due to meet on Monday evening and again on Thursday to consider its draft report. The committee’s reporting deadline was extended by the Speaker of the National Assembly to 11 September.
The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) will hold several question-and-answer sessions during the week.
Ministers in the Peace and Security Cluster will face questions on issues including Truth and Reconciliation Commission reparations, the justice department’s case-management system, correctional-centre overcrowding, cellphone smuggling and the deployment of the army to assist police in combating illegal mining.
The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola will also face questions on international developments affecting South Africa, including the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, anti-immigration protests and illegal immigration.
Parliament has 37 committee meetings scheduled from Monday to Friday. Among the issues on committee agendas are foot-and-mouth disease control, immigration backlogs, the 2026 FIFA World Cup, state property recovery, municipal audit outcomes, military deployments and the funding of Parliament.
Both Houses will enter constituency periods from 31 August. The NCOP constituency period will run until 5 October, while the National Assembly’s will end on 21 September. – SAnews.gov.za
