President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to respond to the debate on his opening of parliament address in a joint sitting of the National Assembly and National Council of Provinces on Monday.
In his opening of parliament address last week Ramaphosa focused on three strategic priorities of the government of national unity: inclusive economic growth and job creation; poverty reduction and the cost of living; and a capable, ethical and developmental state.
Political parties debated Ramaphosa’s address on Friday. The leader of uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, which is the official opposition, repeated its calls to amend the constitution to allow for land expropriation without compensation.
“After the president’s reply, the two houses will split for their respective plenaries at 14:00 to hold separate debates on parliament’s budget [which] outlines parliament’s budget, spending plans, and performance. The National Assembly will also consider reports on budget votes during the same plenary,” parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said in a statement.
The National Assembly will on Tuesday be presented with the presidency’s budget vote.
Also on Tuesday, the ANC resumes the disciplinary hearing of MK party leader and former president Jacob Zuma. The ANC has rejected Zuma’s calls for the hearing to be held in person and in public.
The disciplinary hearing was initially scheduled for May as an
in-person meeting at Luthuli House, but was postponed to July 17 and changed to a virtual meeting due to concerns raised over possible clashes between ANC and MK members.
“He [Zuma] remains of the view that in these circumstances the hearing should not only be physical but also opened up to the public. Those who have nothing to hide must live up to the rights and values enshrined in the constitution,” MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said.
Trade, industry & competition minister Parks Tau will lead SA’s charm offensive to the US for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) Forum scheduled from July 24-26 in Washington. Some legislators in Congress have pushed for the US to review relations between the two countries, stemming from SA’s perceived closeness to US rivals Russia and China, as well as Pretoria’s stance on Israel’s war in Gaza.
Agoa provides SA and other sub-Saharan African beneficiaries preferential access to US markets. SA was the second-largest Agoa exporter in 2023, behind Nigeria, and the largest exporter of non-crude oil products ($3.6bn in 2023). The range of exports includes vehicles, yachts, jewellery, chemicals and fruit.
“The US is SA’s second-largest trading partner and this emphasises the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship between SA and the US,” the department of trade, industry & competition said in a statement.
“The visit to the US will thus provide team SA an opportunity to engage with important stakeholders such as members of Congress, the US administration, as well as the US business community.
“SA will also advocate for Agoa to be complemented by an investment-led strategy to mobilise US investments into Africa’s productive sector for the mutual benefit of both parties,” the statement said.
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