Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698924813516.pdf (South Africa)
Thursday, 12 January 2023] No 2—2023] FIFTH SESSION, SIXTH PARLIAMENT 1 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA _____________________ ANNOUNCEMENTS, TABLINGS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS _____________________ THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2023 _____________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

Draft Bills submitted – Joint Rule 159 ............................................................................. 2 National Assembly 1.
Introduction of Bills ......................................................................................................... 2 2.

Referral to Committees of papers tabled .......................................................................... 2 TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

Minister of Finance........................................................................................................... 3 2.
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment ............................................................. 3 National Assembly 2 1.

Speaker ............................................................................................................................. 4 National Council of Provinces 1.
Chairperson....................................................................................................................... 6 ANNOUNCEMENTS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces The Speaker and the Chairperson 1.

Draft Bills submitted in terms of Joint Rule 159 (1) Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill, 2023, submitted by the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services.
Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services and the Select Committee on Security and Justice, for information.

National Assembly The Speaker 1.

Introduction of Bills (1) The Minister of Justice and Correctional Services (a) Constitution Eighteenth Amendment Bill [B1-2023] (National Assembly – proposed sec 74) [Explanatory summary of Bill and prior notice of its introduction published in Government Gazette No 47665 of 9 December 2022.]
Introduction and referral to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Correctional Services of the National Assembly, as well as referral to the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) for classification in terms of Joint Rule 160.

In terms of Joint Rule 154 written views on the classification of the Bill may be submitted to the JTM.

The Bill may only be classified after the expiry of at least three parliamentary working days since introduction.

2.
Referral to Committees of papers tabled (1) The following paper is referred to the Joint Standing Committee on Defence and the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans: (a) Letter from the President of the Republic, dated 23 December 2022, to the Speaker of the National Assembly, informing members of the Assembly of the employment of members of the South African National Defence Force for service in cooperation with the South African Police Service for the prevention and combating of crime, maintenance and preservation of law and order in the Republic of South Africa under Operation PROSPER.
3 TABLINGS National Assembly and National Council of Provinces 1.

The Minister of Finance (a) Integrated Report and Financial Statements of the South African Special Risk Insurance Association SOC Ltd (SASRIA) for 2021-22, including the Report of the Independent Auditors on the Financial Statements and Performance Information for 2021-22.

(b) Amendments to the National Treasury 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and the 2022/23 Annual Performance Plan Technical Indicator Descriptions.

2.
2.

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (a) Government Notice No 2734, published in Government Gazette No 47489, dated 11 November 2022: Consultation on the Procedures to be followed for the assessment and minimum criteria for Reporting of Identified Environmental Themes in terms of Section 24 (5) (a) and (h) of the Act, when applying for Environmental Authorisation, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).
(b) Government Notice No 2747, published in Government Gazette No 47526, dated 18 November 2022: Revised National list of Ecosystems that are threatened and in need of Protection, in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004).
(c) Government Notice No 2754, published in Government Gazette No 47527, dated 18 November 2022: Consultation on the Draft Biodiversity Management Plan for the Southern Ground-Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri), in terms of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, 2004 (Act No 10 of 2004).
(d) Government Notice No 2757, published in Government Gazette No 47535, dated 18 November 2022: Extension of the Suspension Notice on the implementation of the Regulations to Domesticate the Requirements of the Rotterdam Convention on the prior Informed Consent Procedure for certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade, by a further 120 days, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998).

National Assembly 1.


The Speaker 4 (a) Reply by the Minister of Tourism to Report of Portfolio Committee on Tourism on Budget Vote No 38: Tourism, as adopted by the House on 7 June 2022.

Referred to the Portfolio Committee on Tourism.


(b) Letter dated 15 December 2022, from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to the Speaker of the National Assembly, explaining the reasons for the further delay in the submission of the Annual Report of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for 2021-22.
Dear Honorable Speaker UPDATE ON DELAYS ON SUBMISSION OF THE NSFAS 2021/22 AUDIT REPORT, AUDITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANNUAL REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 65(2)(A) OF THE PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACT, NO 1 OF 1999, AS AMENDED: My letter dated 29 September 2022 on the above matter has reference.
I write to update and appraise Parliament that in terms of section 65(1)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act no 01 of 1999), I am unable to submit and table the Annual Report and audited Financial Statements of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) before Parliament.

In July 2022, the NSFAS Board requested the Minister to note that NSFAS would not be submitting the financial statements and annual report within the statutory timelines.
Due to the nature and complexity of the audit on the close-out project, further delays were experienced during the audit.

The Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) raised some findings relating to the Close-out project.

NSFAS did not agree with the findings and has subsequently engaged the AGSA on disagreements which centre on mis-statements that are adjustable and matters of interpretation.
Stemming from these engagements, the AGSA and NSFAS have since resolved that the entity may submit updated Financial Statements by 31 March 2023.

Due to the extent of the audit work to be performed, I anticipate the sign-off date of the auditor’s report to be 30 June 2023.

As the audit is currently under review, I request Parliament to note that NSFAS is still not in a position to submit the 2021/22 Audit Report, Audited Annual Financial Statements (AFS), and the Annual Report.
NSFAS will be in the position to submit the AFS and an Annual report once the audit opinion is obtained.

It is expected that the submission will be ready for tabling on 30 June 2023.
5 Yours sincerely (signed) DR BE NZIMANDE, MP MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION DATE:15/12/2022 (c) Letter dated 9 January 2023, from the Minister of Finance to the Speaker of the National Assembly, explaining the reasons for the delay in the submission of the Consolidated Financial Statements including the National Revenue Fund for 2021-22.
Dear Honourable Speaker TABLING OF THE 2021-2022 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL REVENUE FUND In terms of Section 8(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act No.

1 of 1999) as amended "The Minister must submit the consolidated financial statements and the audit report on those statements, within one month of receiving the report from the Auditor-General, to parliament for tabling in both Houses".
The consolidated financial statements include the National Revenue Fund financial statements which are presented separately.
EXTENSION OF SUBMISSION DEADLINES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Due to a delay in the submission of audited financial statements by National Treasury (NT) as a result of an ongoing audit dispute between the latter and the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA)which further delayed finalisation of the NT audit, the consolidated financial statements (CFS) including the National Revenue Fund financial statements (NRF) will not be tabled by the extended deadline of 18 January 2023.
Section 8(5)(a) of the PFMA stipulates that "If the Minister fails to submit the consolidated financial statements and the Auditor General's report on those statements to Parliament within seven months after the end of the financial year to which those statements relate — the Minister must submit to Parliament a written explanation setting out the reasons why they were not submitted”.
The CFS, including the NRF were due for tabling by 31 October 2022, but the deadline could not be met because of the delayed submission of audited financial statements of initially two national departments and a substantial number of public entities and now recently by NT as indicated above.

At the time of the previous request which was dated 14/12/2022, the audit of some parts of the CFS and NRF have been concluded except with the outstanding financial information from NT.
Due to the facts that NT AFS were only finalised on 21 December 2022 and the festive season, the date of the 18th of January will not be met.

6 I therefore request a further delay in the tabling of these documents and estimate that I will be able to table the above-mentioned financial statements and the audit reports thereon by 31 January 2023.

I appreciate your understanding in this regard, Please accept, dear colleague, the assurance of my highest consideration and best wishes.
I remain, Yours sincerely (signed) ENOCH GODONGWANA MINISTER OF FINANCE DATE: 09/01/2023 National Council of Provinces 1.

The Chairperson (a) Letter dated 15 December 2022, from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, explaining the reasons for the further delay in the submission of the Annual Report of the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) for 2021-22.
Dear Honorable Chairperson UPDATE ON DELAYS ON SUBMISSION OF THE NSFAS 2021/22 AUDIT REPORT, AUDITED ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANNUAL REPORT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 65(2)(A) OF THE PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ACT, NO 1 OF 1999, AS AMENDED: My letter dated 29 September 2022 on the above matter has reference.
I write to update and appraise Parliament that in terms of section 65(1)(a) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act no 01 of 1999), I am unable to submit and table the Annual Report and audited Financial Statements of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) before Parliament.

In July 2022, the NSFAS Board requested the Minister to note that NSFAS would not be submitting the financial statements and annual report within the statutory timelines.
Due to the nature and complexity of the audit on the close-out project, further delays were experienced during the audit.

The Auditor-General South Africa (AGSA) raised some findings relating to the Close-out project.

NSFAS did not 7 agree with the findings and has subsequently engaged the AGSA on disagreements which centre on mis-statements that are adjustable and matters of interpretation.
Stemming from these engagements, the AGSA and NSFAS have since resolved that the entity may submit updated Financial Statements by 31 March 2023.

Due to the extent of the audit work to be performed, I anticipate the sign-off date of the auditor’s report to be 30 June 2023.

As the audit is currently under review, I request Parliament to note that NSFAS is still not in a position to submit the 2021/22 Audit Report, Audited Annual Financial Statements (AFS), and the Annual Report.
NSFAS will be in the position to submit the AFS and an Annual report once the audit opinion is obtained.

It is expected that the submission will be ready for tabling on 30 June 2023.
Yours sincerely (signed) DR BE NZIMANDE, MP MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION DATE:15/12/2022 (b) Letter dated 9 January 2023, from the Minister of Finance to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, explaining the reasons for the delay in the submission of the Consolidated Financial Statements including the National Revenue Fund for 2021-22.
Dear Honourable Chairperson TABLING OF THE 2021-2022 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDING THE NATIONAL REVENUE FUND In terms of Section 8(3) of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 (Act No.

1 of 1999) as amended "The Minister must submit the consolidated financial statements and the audit report on those statements, within one month of receiving the report from the Auditor-General, to parliament for tabling in both Houses".
The consolidated financial statements include the National Revenue Fund financial statements which are presented separately.
EXTENSION OF SUBMISSION DEADLINES OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Due to a delay in the submission of audited financial statements by National Treasury (NT) as a result of an ongoing audit dispute between the latter and the Auditor General South Africa (AGSA)which further delayed finalisation of the NT audit, the consolidated financial statements (CFS) including the National Revenue Fund financial statements (NRF) will not be tabled by the extended deadline of 18 January 2023.
8 Section 8(5)(a) of the PFMA stipulates that "If the Minister fails to submit the consolidated financial statements and the Auditor General's report on those statements to Parliament within seven months after the end of the financial year to which those statements relate — the Minister must submit to Parliament a written explanation setting out the reasons why they were not submitted”.
The CFS, including the NRF were due for tabling by 31 October 2022, but the deadline could not be met because of the delayed submission of audited financial statements of initially two national departments and a substantial number of public entities and now recently by NT as indicated above.

At the time of the previous request which was dated 14/12/2022, the audit of some parts of the CFS and NRF have been concluded except with the outstanding financial information from NT.
Due to the facts that NT AFS were only finalised on 21 December 2022 and the festive season, the date of the 18th of January will not be met.

I therefore request a further delay in the tabling of these documents and estimate that I will be able to table the above-mentioned financial statements and the audit reports thereon by 31 January 2023.

I appreciate your understanding in this regard, Please accept, dear colleague, the assurance of my highest consideration and best wishes.
I remain, Yours sincerely (signed) ENOCH GODONGWANA MINISTER OF FINANCE DATE: 09/01/2023