President Cyril Ramaphosa will answer questions in parliament on Tuesday, with his deputy, Paul Mashatile, expected to do same in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Questions to Ramaphosa will cover a range of matters, including whether he intends to take measures to shield citizens from the rising costs of necessities because the household food basket has increased nearly 40% above the rate of inflation.
Ramaphosa is expected to provide details to members on the new economic policies he and his cabinet have developed since the formation of the government of national unity (GNU) last year.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ramaphosa will be asked about the engagements initiated to end the conflict.
Communications & digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi is also expected to appear before parliament’s portfolio committee on Tuesday after he gazetted new draft rules for foreign telecom operators seen to favour Elon Musk’s Starlink to operate in SA.
Committee chair Khusela Diko said the policy directions appear to be in contravention of the Electronic Communications Act and “in favour of low earth orbit satellite provider SpaceX”.
Malatsi’s department gazetted a policy directive on Friday on the role of equity equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) in the ICT sector “as a mechanism to accelerate broadband access”.
This would open the door for Musk to start operating in SA, with the government addressing the SA-born tycoon’s biggest gripe with BEE laws he has strongly rejected.
Stats SA is set to release the 2024 general household survey in Pretoria on Tuesday. The survey provides a snapshot of progress achieved in basic government services and identifies service delivery gaps for policy intervention.
It aims to assess the levels of development in the country as well as the extent of service delivery and the quality of services in several key service sectors, including health, education, social security, housing and energy, among many others.
The National Assembly is also set for a busy week, with a number of portfolio committee meetings lined up.
On Tuesday, the water and sanitation committee will be briefed by the department of water & sanitation on phase two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project.
On Wednesday, the international relations & co-operation committee is set to hold a virtual colloquium on “How SA is managing the G20 opportunity for the benefit of all”. It will be addressed by Prof Siphamandla Zondi, Dr Elizabeth Sidiropoulos and Dr Philani Mthembu.
The trade & industry committee is expected to have an engagement with steel industry stakeholders “in relation to the progress and outcomes of implementing the Steel and Metal Fabrication Master Plan”.
The NCOP’s select committee on public infrastructure and the minister in the presidency are set to be briefed by the auditor-general on the audit information for the department of planning, monitoring & evaluation.
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