Parly set for another busy week with Budget Speech, impeachment of 2 judges on agenda

CAPE TOWN - Parliament can expect another busy week of activity, with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech headlining activities. 

This week could also see the first ever impeachment of not one, but two judges by the National Assembly, which is expected to vote on the matter later this week. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa also returns to Parliament for the official opening of the National House of Traditional Leaders. 

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will on Wednesday table the last budget of the current term of Parliament, which will come to an end when Parliament rises at the end of March. 

Following Godongwana’s speech, the National Assembly will then consider two reports from the justice committee which recommends the removal of judges John Hlophe and Nkola Motata. 

Much like Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s impeachment as Public Protector last year, the impeachments of Hlophe and Motata will also be the first for a judge in the country’s 30-year democracy. 

While Hlophe has challenged his pending impeachment, Parliament said on Sunday that current laws were sufficient to deal with the removals of both judges. 

Following his State of the Nation Address (SONA), which marked the official opening of Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa makes another return to open the National House of Traditional Leaders on Thursday.