This week begins with continued scrutiny over tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s opinion piece about judges and the constitution, with many wondering how long the president can afford to stay mum.
On Friday, justice minister Ronald Lamola penned a response to Sisulu’s column. On Sunday, she replied in an open letter published on a news website owned by Independent Newspapers.
On Monday, six parties in a coalition in Johannesburg will hold a briefing after disruptions last week. Those participating represent the ACDP, ActionSA, COPE, DA, FF+ and the IFP. The address comes in light of ANC and EFF councillors’ actions last week. The notice asserts “the multiparty coalition is sending out a warning to the ANC and EFF that the pointless disruption of properly constituted meetings will not be allowed to continue”.
Mondli Gungubele, minister in the presidency, will conduct a green hydrogen site visit to Boegebaai in Port Nolloth, Northern Cape, on Monday. Gungubele joins a delegation including representatives from Sasol, Infrastructure SA, and the Northern Cape government. The event to promote green hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuels follows a conference in 2021.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula will make at least three stops at train stations on Cape Town’s northern passenger line on Monday. He is will then visit a traffic control centre in Bellville during the “oversight visit” to inspect station upgrades. The Passenger Rail Service of SA (Prasa) is preparing to resume certain services.
On Tuesday, the high court in Pretoria is set to hear an urgent application brought by the lobby group AfriForum seeking to compel the basic education department to publish matric results two days later.
The organisation launched the case against what it claimed was basic education minister Angie Motshekga’s “sudden decision” not to publish the results. The basic education department took the decision based on the provisions of the Protection of Personal Information Act, which guards individuals’ private personal information. Matric results are due for release on Thursday, January 20.
This week, citizens will participate in hearings on the Gas Amendment Bill, which includes provisions on new gas technology. From Monday to Wednesday, the portfolio committee on mineral resources & energy will host the public hearings. They are scheduled in the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Free State.
The engagements follow hearings last year, including in Mpumalanga and Gauteng in November.
Also this week, parliament’s portfolio committee on police continues its investigation into last July’s violence in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.
The justice & correctional services portfolio committee will resume its work on the complaint against Western Cape judge president John Hlophe.
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