President Cyril Ramaphosa is this week expected to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a state visit in what could be the political highlight of the week.
Ramaphosa is said to have discussed the Ukraine-Russia war in a phone call with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin on Monday, the Kremlin said.
Putin outlined Russia’s position on the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict and ensure Russia’s security interests, Reuters reported the Kremlin as saying.
Speaking to journalists recently, Ramaphosa said the objective of bringing Zelensky, “or responding to his request that he should come, is that we want to enforce the message of peace”.
“We want to advance that objective. We have been saying the only way to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict is through peaceful means, and through peaceful negotiations. That is the message we will be passing on to President Zelensky,” Ramaphosa said.
International relations & co-operation minister Ronald Lamola’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, said the presidency would communicate Zelensky’s itinerary soon.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 2022 in what Putin described as a special military operation. Ukraine, with the support of the West and Nato has since been fighting the invasion.
Elsewhere, the Western Cape High Court is on Tuesday expected to hear the DA’s application on the constitutionality of the VAT Act.
The DA took finance minister Enoch Godongwana and SA Revenue Service commissioner Edward Kieswetter to court two weeks ago over the VAT increase, which comes into effect on May 1.
Tension among government of national unity (GNU) partners, the ANC and DA in particular, is high after the passing of the fiscal framework, which contains a 0.5 percentage point VAT hike as part of the government’s revenue streams for 2025/26.
The first part of the DA’s legal papers aims at having the process in the parliamentary portfolio committee on finance on April 1 declared null and void because it was “unprocedural”.
The second part, according to DA federal council chair Helen Zille, is aimed at having section 7.4 of the VAT Act declared unconstitutional because “it gives the minister the power to enforce a VAT increase without taking it through parliament, and without the need to have the fiscal framework and other legislation required passed in parliament”.
Also on Tuesday, the department of trade, industry & competition’s portfolio committee will be briefed by the department’s officials.
On the same day, judge Dennis Davis will address the Cape Town Press Club on the GNU and VAT.
The tourism portfolio committee is set to be briefed by the department of tourism on Tuesday on its five-year strategic plan, annual performance plan and budget for 2025/26.
The portfolio committee on health will be briefed by the Financial and Fiscal Commission on its analysis of the health sector’s strategic plans, annual performance plans and budget for the 2025/26 financial year. The auditor-general SA is also set to brief the same committee.
On Wednesday, the social development department is set to brief the social development portfolio committee on its annual performance plan and 2025/26 budget.
The portfolio committee on international relations and co-operation is set to receive a presentation by the National Planning Commission on its study, “How SA Could Improve Its Approach to Chairing Global Bodies and Hosting International Forums”. SA currently holds the presidency of the G20.
Also taking place on Wednesday, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) is set to hold a media briefing at its Centurion headquarters to provide an update on what it says are “key initiatives and projects the organisation is undertaking, including the latest information regarding the upcoming local government elections”.
On Thursday, the portfolio committee on electricity & energy is set to be briefed by the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation on their strategic plan for 2025-30, their annual performance plan for 2025-26 and budget for 2025/26.
On Friday, the standing committee on public accounts will be briefed by the Special Investigation Unit on investigations conducted into the cash-strapped Road Accident Fund.
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