All eyes will be on finance minister Tito Mboweni when he delivers his budget speech in the National Assembly on Wednesday.
The state capture commission of inquiry will also be key as it begins hearing evidence on looting at power utility Eskom, amid a financial and capacity crisis at the power utility that culminated in stage four load shedding last week.
The budget will be closely watched for details on a government bailout for Eskom as well as SA Airways. Labour federation, the SA Federation of Trade Unions, is expected to protest outside parliament in demand of a budget that addresses unemployment, inequality and poverty.
Two important debates are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday in parliament. On Thursday MPs will discuss Eskom and the current energy crisis, and on Tuesday the National Assembly will discuss ways to transform the economy to “serve the people”.
According to parliament, 39 committees are scheduled to meet this week, with the 2019 Budget, 16 bills and other reports from various government departments to be discussed.
The portfolio committee on police will discuss the employment contract of , Robert McBride, the executive director of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, on Friday. Police minister Bheki Cele has written to McBride indicating that his contract will not be extended. McBride challenged this in court, arguing that only parliament has the power to terminate or renew his contract.
The Treasury’s former director-general, Lungisa Fuzile, returns to give evidence at the state capture commission chaired by deputy chief justice Raymond Zondo on Monday. The Zondo commission will turn its attention to allegations of state capture on Wednesday. The timing is crucial given the crisis at the power utility, which is partly attributable to the looting and corruption that allegedly took place under former CEO Brian Molefe.
Parliament’s inquiry into governance, procurement and financial sustainability at Eskom has shed light on how the power utility became a vehicle for state capture and corruption. The National Assembly adopted the Eskom inquiry final report in November 2018. At the time MPs welcomed the report, with the EFF calling for law-enforcement agencies to investigate Molefe, Matshela Koko, Anoj Singh, the Gupta family, Duduzane Zuma, Jacob Zuma and Dudu Myeni. The report was handed over to Zondo by the committee.
Lawrence Mrwebi is scheduled to take the stand at the Mokgoro inquiry into his fitness to hold office on Wednesday. Mrwebi is the suspended head of the specialised commercial crimes unit and the inquiry has heard evidence over the past four weeks relating to his conduct, and that of Nomgcobo Jiba, the suspended deputy national director of public prosecutions.
The two advocates under scrutiny have not yet given their versions to the inquiry. Mrwebi has come under fire for his decision to drop the fraud and corruption charges against former crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli.
Gauteng ANC chair David Makhura, who concludes his first term as provincial premier ahead of the May 8 polls, will deliver his state of the province address on Monday. Gauteng is seen as the main electoral battleground in the upcoming general elections.
Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba will on Monday brief the media on structural defects on sections of the M2 bridge. Mashaba has in the past raised concerns over the stability of the Karzene and Selby sections of the M2 Bridge. He says thes sections of the bridge pose a danger to road users due to neglected maintenance.
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