The G20 Summit opens in Rio as COP29 draws to a close in Baku. In SA, it’s ‘committee week’ in Parliament with gender-based violence, transport policy, green hydrogen and digital migration topping the agenda. By-elections on Wednesday offer an indication of trends in party support since the GNU was formed.
Monday 18 Nov
The G20 Summit begins in Rio de Janeiro, with the African Union making its debut as a full member. South Africa is expected to play a key role in shaping the agenda ahead of its assumption of the G20 presidency on 1 December 2024.
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) will hand over its first National Gender-Based Violence Study to Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga.
SpaceX conducts its sixth orbital test flight of the Starship spacecraft, continuing Elon Musk’s ambitious push for interplanetary travel.
The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) launches Health at a Glance: Europe 2024.
Tuesday 19 Nov
Centre for Development and Enterprise Executive Director Ann Bernstein hosts an online conversation with Eskom Chairperson Mteto Nyati. This will take place on the 238th consecutive day without load shedding.
The ‘construction mafia’ takes centre-stage at the National Summit on Crime-Free Construction Sites in Durban. Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson will be joined by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, industry leaders and SAPS.
The Portfolio Committee on Transport discusses the Economic Regulation of Transport Amendment Bill which aims to enhance oversight of the sector, and the Merchant Shipping Bill which aligns maritime laws with international standards.
Plans to advance green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies are up for discussion at a joint meeting of the Portfolio Committees on Science & Technology and on Trade, Industry & Competition.
The Portfolio Committee on Tourism will hear updates from the Tourism Business Council on efforts to boost the industry, and from the Department of Tourism on its safety strategy.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will review progress on the analogue switch-off (set for completion by 31 December 2024). This will be followed by a briefing on the SABC Bill that was controversially withdrawn by Minister Solly Malatsi last week.
In the European Parliament, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make a speech to mark 1,000 days since Russia’s invasion.
Wednesday 20 Nov
Today is World Children’s Day which promotes the welfare of children across the globe.
Teenage pregnancy is on the agenda of the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, which will also hear from the South African Medical Research Council on gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide.
The Commission for Gender Equality holds hearings in Durban, summoning key justice and policing entities to address systemic failures in GBV cases.
The Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy will receive a ministerial briefing on the Just Energy Transition plan and its implementation.
The Centre for Development and Enterprise launches a new report on trade and industrial policy as part of its Agenda 2024 series.
The World Movement for Democracy will hold its 12th Global Assembly in Johannesburg. It will be attended by nearly 500 civil society leaders, political actors and thinkers from around 100 countries.
By-elections take place in the Eastern Cape (Ward 23 in the Raymond Mhlaba municipality) and the Western Cape (Ward 30 in the City of Cape Town and Ward 6 in Matzikama).
The SADC Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State convenes in Harare to review regional security, focusing on the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The International Criminal Court sentences Al Hassan, a former Islamist police chief in Timbuktu, for crimes against humanity committed during Mali’s 2012-2013 conflict.
Thursday 21 Nov
The South African Reserve Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee is set to hold its final meeting of 2024, where it is anticipated to announce another interest rate cut.
The 6th Annual Township Economy Awards & Summit starts in Tembisa.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies conducts interviews over two days to fill vacancies on the ICASA Council.
The final sessions of COP29 take place, with countries expected to formalise key agreements on global climate action.
EU ministers on the Foreign Affairs Council meet to discuss trade relations with the United States. This takes place amid concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed 10% tariff on goods imported from Europe.
UNESCO hosts philosopher Hartmut Rosa for a World Philosophy Day keynote on ‘social energy,’ a concept examining how societies sustain collective vitality through meaningful connections and shared experiences.
Friday 22 Nov
The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts, and Culture discusses the South African Rugby Union’s proposed equity sale to an American consortium.
Sunday 24 Nov
Uruguay votes in a runoff between Yamandú Orsi (Broad Front coalition) and Álvaro Delgado (National Party).
Romania holds its first-round presidential election.
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