The debate on the annual address to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) by President Jacob Zuma headlines this week's busy schedule of Parliament - which is packed with debates, consideration of committee reports plus questions for oral reply.

Coming up this week the National Assembly (NA) and the NCOP will have three plenary sittings each, with 26 committees scheduled to have meetings - which include public hearings by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties. On Tuesday, the NCOP will debate the proliferation of unlawful deductions by credit providers and employers and also consider three (3) reports of the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests which relate to alleged maladministration, alleged breach of the Constitution and late disclosures for 2016. On Wednesday, the NCOP will hold a debate on Taking Parliament to the People held in Mangaung in August. Thursday's debate on the annual address by the President is themed: "Deepening unity in action for inclusive growth and Africa's Renewal – reclaiming the legacy of OR Tambo."

On Tuesday, in addition to considering eight (8) committee reports during its sitting, the NA will hold a second reading debate on the Traditional and Khoisan Leadership Bill plus a debate on nationalization of banks without compensation. On Wednesday, the Ministers in the Governance Cluster (Minister in the Presidency; Minister of Women in the Presidency; Minister of Public Service and Administration and Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs) will appear to answer questions for oral reply. The sitting will also consider the Standing Committee on Finance's report on Revised Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals. The NA's Thursday sitting will consider 13 committee reports with Members Statements also schedule to take place.

The public hearings scheduled for this week are:

Ad Hoc Committee on the Funding of Political Parties which will hold public hearings on the Draft Political Parties Funding Bill in the Old Assembly Chamber on Tuesday and Wednesday (contact Justice Molafo on 081 424 0135).

Issues for the 36 scheduled committee meetings this week include:

Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry: Decision on the experts to serve on the technical panel dealing with the Copyright Amendment Bill and also deliberate on the debt relief Bill. (Tuesday).

Portfolio Committee on Women in the Presidency: Briefing by the Commission on Gender Equality on the report on Promotion of Gender Equality Underground. (Tuesday).

Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation: Inputs on the Foreign Service Bill from the Departments of Higher Education and Training, of Transport, of Energy, of Environmental Affairs and of Telecommunications and Postal Services. (Wednesday).

Standing Committee on Appropriations and the Select Committee on Appropriations: Joint meeting: Briefing by National Treasury in the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill. (Thursday).

For the full schedule of committee meetings (updated daily), please click: https://www.Parliament.gov.za/whatson.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.