SOUTH AFRICA – President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to answer questions in the National Assembly this week, placing municipal governance, South Africa’s international standing, and the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at the forefront of parliamentary scrutiny.
The President is scheduled to respond to oral questions at 2pm on Tuesday. Lawmakers are expected to examine measures designed to restore South Africa’s credibility as a Pan-African voice, particularly in light of recent protests against foreign nationals. Additionally, structural reforms aimed at enhancing municipal capacity, accountability, and the delivery of basic services will serve as a central topic of debate.
The Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will also remain a key legislative focus. The committee is scheduled to convene on Monday evening and again on Thursday to review its draft report. The Speaker of the National Assembly recently extended the committee’s reporting deadline to 11 September to ensure thorough consideration of the findings.
In the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), multiple question-and-answer sessions are slated for the week. Ministers within the Peace and Security Cluster will face parliamentary inquiries regarding Truth and Reconciliation Commission reparations, the justice department’s case-management system, overcrowding in correctional centres, cellphone smuggling, and the deployment of the military to assist law enforcement in combating illegal mining.
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola will also be questioned on global developments impacting South Africa. His portfolio will address the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, as well as domestic challenges related to anti-immigration protests and illegal immigration.
Across the legislative body, Parliament has scheduled 37 committee meetings from Monday to Friday. The diverse agendas include foot-and-mouth disease control, immigration backlogs, preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, state property recovery, municipal audit outcomes, military deployments, and the funding of Parliament itself.
Following this intensive legislative week, both Houses of Parliament will transition into their constituency periods starting 31 August. The NCOP constituency period will extend until 5 October, while the National Assembly’s period will conclude on 21 September.