Parliament will hold a three-day debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address, alongside a packed schedule of parliamentary committee meetings. Conflict in the Middle East, Sudan, the DRC, and Ukraine will dominate various global ministerial forums, heads-of-state meetings, protest rallies, and the African Union Summit, which begins on Saturday.
Monday 10 Feb
The National Assembly debates the recent casualties incurred by the South African National Defence Force in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber will hand over Smart Card IDs to fire victims in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. He will be joined by Mayor of Stellenbosch Jeremy Fasser.
The ANC’s National Working Committee meets to discuss the reconfiguration of structures in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, following the party’s poor performance in those provinces in the 2024 elections.
China’s retaliatory tariffs on US goods come into effect, imposing a 15% levy on American coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on crude oil, cars, and agricultural machinery. These measures are in response to the US imposing a 10% tariff on Chinese imports on 4 February.
The Artificial Intelligence Action Summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and co-chaired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opens in Paris. Notable attendees include US Vice President JD Vance and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) releases the Economic Development in Africa Report 2024, focusing on unlocking Africa’s trade potential through regional integration and risk reduction.
The United Nations marks World Pulses Day to highlight the role of pulses (such as lentils, beans, and chickpeas) in sustainable food production, nutrition, and food security.
Tuesday 11 Feb
A joint sitting of Parliament will be held for the debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address.
The Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies will be briefed by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa on the cost-to-communicate, spectrum management, network quality and the inquiry into subscription television broadcasting.
The Portfolio Committee on Transport will be briefed by Minister Barbara Creecy on the latest Festive Season Road Safety Statistics. The committee will also consider written submissions on the draft Economic Regulation of Transport Amendment Bill.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs will deliberate on the donations limit and disclosure threshold for party funding. The committee will also be briefed on public submissions received on the Immigration Amendment Bill.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House. This follows tensions over Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries.
Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, is scheduled to meet with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in Budapest.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers a speech at the final Bundestag plenary session before the federal election on 23 February.
Transparency International releases its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, assessing perceived levels of public sector corruption in 180 countries and territories.
It is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, highlighting the role of women in STEM and the need for gender equality in scientific fields.
Wednesday 12 Feb
The parliamentary debate on the President’s State of the Nation Address resumes.
The Portfolio Committee on Land Reform and Rural Development will be briefed by Parliamentary Legal Services on the legal foundations of the Ingonyama Trust.
The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure will be briefed on the restoration of the National Assembly following the 2022 fire.
Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise Ann Bernstein will host an online conversation with British journalist, author and political commentator Adrian Wooldridge. The discussion will be focused on reinventing the state, enabling business in the 21st century and why meritocracy is so important.
The first G20 Education Working Group Meeting under South Africa’s presidency begins.
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group convenes in Brussels, chaired for the first time by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in attendance.
Today marks the International Day for the ‘Prevention of Violent Extremism as and When Conducive to Terrorism’.
Thursday 13 Feb
The President will reply to the debate on the State of the Nation Address at a joint sitting of Parliament.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with US President Donald Trump at the White House. This follows a phone call on 27 January where both leaders emphasised their commitment to advancing the US-India strategic partnership.
France hosts an international ministerial conference on Syria in Paris, aiming to support a fair and inclusive political transition that respects the rights of all Syrians.
It is World Radio Day, recognising radio’s role in informing, connecting, and shaping society.
Friday 14 Feb
It’s Valentine’s Day, a celebration of love with origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, later linked to St. Valentine, a 3rd-century priest said to have performed secret marriages.
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education will engage with the Department and accreditation body Umalusi on the 2024 National Senior Certificate examination results.
The Munich Security Conference begins in Germany, lasting three days. Attendees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US Vice President JD Vance.
Saturday 15 Feb
The 38th African Union Summit begins in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, focusing on the theme ‘Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations’. Conflict in the DRC and Sudan are likely to feature high on the agenda.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign is expected to hold a protest in London against President Donald Trump’s proposal to redevelop Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.
Sunday 16 Feb
In Germany, Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats (SPD), Friedrich Merz of the conservative CDU/CSU, Alice Weidel of the far-right AfD and Robert Habeck of the Greens are scheduled to appear in a televised debate ahead of the 23 February election.
North Korea observes the Day of the Shining Star, a national holiday commemorating the birth of former leader Kim Jong Il.
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