On Monday, parliament’s economic services cluster will host a media briefing at which three committee chairs are expected to outline progress and challenges in their sectors.
• The portfolio committee on communications & digital technologies will present updates on the broadcasting digital migration programme and the national broadband rollout.
• The portfolio committee on mineral & petroleum resources will speak on efforts to strengthen state-owned entities in the mining sector.
• The select committee on public infrastructure and the minister in the presidency will provide insights into the findings and recommendations of the PwC investigation into the Independent Development Trust (IDT).
The IDT is a government entity that serves as an implementing agency for social infrastructure programmes and provides project management services to the government. Its primary role is to manage the construction, renovation and maintenance of facilities such as schools, clinics, hospitals and community centres. It leads initiatives such as the Expanded Public Works Programme.
🗓️ Political Week Ahead
Parliament
- Mon: Economic services cluster briefing; committees on digital migration, mining state-owned entities and IDT probe; EFF pension fund response.
- Fri: EFF deadline on pension fund oversight.
International
- Mon: Parks Tau launches SA pavilion at Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers.
- Tue: UN General Assembly opens in New York.
- Thu: Parks Tau on AfCFTA panel in Algiers.
Summits & governance
- Thu: Intergovernmental meeting in Rustenburg on service delivery.
- Fri: Nedlac annual summit, Johannesburg.
The IDT has been in the news of late for the wrong reasons. Public works & infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has asked the new IDT board to investigate all contracts issued under suspended CEO Tebogo Malaka, review the contractors involved, uncover any additional allegations of corruption and track money flows to determine the extent of wrongdoing.
A month ago Macpherson laid criminal charges against Malaka and spokesperson Phasha Makgolane after Daily Maverick reported that journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh was offered R60,000 in cash to suppress negative reporting.
Macpherson will also report on progress in improving the condition of government buildings used for service delivery and measures to address mounting debt owed by organs of state to the Property Management Trading Entity.
Meanwhile, the EFF is expected to receive a response to its formal request for a joint committee sitting on pension fund noncompliance and worker exploitation. The party has called for urgent hearings after revelations that billions in pension contributions have not been transferred by private security firms and municipalities, leaving long-serving workers without retirement protection.
On the international front, trade, industry & competition minister Parks Tau will officially launch the SA pavilion at the Intra-African Trade Fair in Algiers, where he is leading a delegation of 30 businesses.
On Tuesday, the 80th session of the UN General Assembly will open in New York. SA is expected to participate in high-level debates later this month.
On Thursday, national and North West provincial cabinet members will meet at the Rustenburg Civic Centre for an intergovernmental event focused on service delivery. The meeting follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s commitment to strengthen municipal capacity through closer collaboration between the various tiers of government.
Also in the week, the National Economic Development and Labour Council will host its annual summit in Johannesburg.
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