Parliament set to resume its business of tackling key issues

CAPE TOWN - After a three-week long break, Parliament will from Tuesday start grappling with key issues affecting the country.  

For the first time since taking up his portfolio, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber will be in the hot seat to explain several issues that have impacted his department in recent weeks.  

The Correctional Services Department and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) will also be in the spotlight.  

New Members of Parliament have gone through induction and should be set to start working in their respective portfolio committees, often referred to as the engine room of Parliament.  

The Standing Committee of Public Accounts, now under the leadership of Rise Mzansi's Songezo Zibi will be considering the legacy report of the sixth administration and its new focus areas for this term. 

READ: New Parliament committee chairs undergoing training on conducting, chairing meetings

Schreiber has a long list of updates to provide, including the recent deportation of 95 Libyans who were participating in what’s believed to be an illegal military training camp - the detention of 90 Ethiopian nationals  and the citizenship debacle involving a former Miss SA contestant. 

The Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services will be providing an update on the challenges facing the country’s prisons.

While the NSFAS administrator will have to bring the new higher education committee up to speed on the improvements made in line with his terms of reference.  

Meanwhile, the Public Works Department is also expected to provide an update on the rebuilding of Parliament.  

The electricity and energy minister will update Parliament on the country’s energy and resources plans towards the end of the week, while the DA waits for Parliament to set a date for a debate on the rising cost of electricity.