OCKHAM OBSERVER

An eye on the week ahead

Ramaphosa faces questions in Parliament

President Ramaphosa answers questions in the National Assembly on US tariffs, the National Dialogue and cost of deputy ministers.

Monday 8 September
Deputy President Paul Mashatile opens the 12th SA AIDS Conference at Emperors Palace, joined by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, and other South African National AIDS Council leaders.

Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi opens the GovTech 2025 Conference in Durban under the theme “One Data, One Citizen, One Service Delivery Journey – Digital Transformation”.

Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi attends the 63rd Annual Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation in Kampala, Uganda.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube releases the 2024 Thrive by Five Index at the FirstRand Auditorium in Sandton, providing new data on early childhood development and the expansion of early learning programmes.

Environment Minister Dion George attends the Africa Climate Summit in Addis Ababa to contribute to Africa-led climate solutions and unlock climate finance ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

The Gauteng Department of Health launches its HPV Single Dose Vaccination Campaign, offering Cervarix to girls at schools across the province to provide lifelong protection against cervical cancer.

Deputy Justice Minister Andries Nel visits Athlone Magistrates Court following a shooting at the court entrance.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a confidence vote on his budget, with defeat expected to bring down his government and force President Emmanuel Macron to replace him.

Norway holds parliamentary elections to elect all 169 members of the Storting, with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s Labour Party seeking re-election amid a strong challenge from the Progress and Conservative parties.

UNESCO marks International Literacy Day with a global conference in Paris, highlighting the plight of 739 million people worldwide who still lack basic literacy skills.

The OECD holds Financial Markets Week in Paris, with discussions on global financial markets, debt management, consumer protection and sustainable finance.

Tuesday 9 September
President Ramaphosa answers questions in the National Assembly on US tariffs, Post Bank, the role of the National Dialogue in advancing economic priorities, South Africa’s G20 Presidency, the cost and future of Deputy Ministers, and plans to establish the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Council.

The Ministers of Agriculture and of Land Reform and Rural Development take questions in the National Council of Provinces on the impact of US tariffs, working conditions of animal health practitioners, support for small-scale sugarcane farmers and land restitution.

Also in Parliament:

  • The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure receives a departmental briefing on the forensic report into the R800 million PSA Oxygen Plant tender.
  • The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries is briefed by SANParks on challenges facing the Table Mountain and West Coast National Parks.
  • The Communications Portfolio Committee meets in Durban for a briefing on digital migration.
  • The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture discusses the Performing Animals Protection Amendment Bill.
  • The Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services hears a presentation from the Department on unnatural deaths in correctional centres.
  • The Portfolio Committee on Transport receives a legal briefing on the Marine Oil Pollution Bill.

Martin Wolf, Associate Editor at the Financial Times, takes part in an online conversation with Ann Bernstein, Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise, on the crisis of the post-war liberal order and its implications for democracy and prosperity.

The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly opens in New York, with Secretary-General António Guterres and newly elected Assembly President Annalena Baerbock presiding.

African Union Day is observed to mark the 1999 Sirte Declaration that led to the AU’s creation.

The OECD launches Education at a Glance 2025, its annual global survey of education systems, with this year’s edition focusing on universities and other forms of tertiary education.

Statistics South Africa releases second quarter 2025 GDP figures.

Bafana Bafana play Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Wednesday 10 September
By-elections take place in Kou-Kamma (Eastern Cape), Nala (Free State), Johannesburg (Gauteng) and Bela-Bela (Limpopo).

Ministers in the economic cluster answer questions in the National Assembly on the closure of Goodyear’s Kariega plant, support for local spaza shop owners, liabilities at the Road Accident Fund, misconduct allegations at SA Tourism, delays in tabling Transnet’s strategic plan, violence against e-hailing drivers, and the forensic investigation into the R800 million oxygen plant project.

Also in Parliament:

  • The Standing Committee on Finance is briefed by National Treasury and the South African Revenue Service on the annual draft tax bills.
  • The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure receives an update on the Immovable Asset Register and on the status of Telkom Towers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers the State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Shi’ah Muslims observe Mawlid an-Nabi, the commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.

The Proteas play England in the first T20 international of a three-match series at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff.

Thursday 11 September
The National Assembly meets to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill.
 
Deputy President Paul Mashatile fields questions in the National Council of Provinces on municipalities’ R25.6 billion debt to water boards, rising youth unemployment, support for HIV/AIDS non-profits after US funding cuts, transparency in his own office, and service delivery failures in Free State municipalities.
 
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi delivers the keynote at the inaugural Health Ombudsman Conference at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, held under the theme “Health and Healthcare as a Human Right”.
 
The G20 Women’s Dialogue takes place in East London, headlined by Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga.
 
Statistics South Africa releases monthly reports on the Residential Property Price Index, mining production and sales, and manufacturing production and sales.
 
US President Donald Trump attends a 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon before heading to a New York Yankees baseball game in the Bronx.
 
New York Fashion Week begins.

Friday 12 September
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille hosts the G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting at Skukuza, Mpumalanga, to finalise an action plan on AI and innovation for travel start-ups, tourism financing and air connectivity.

In Parliament:

  • The Joint Standing Committee on Financial Management of Parliament meets with the Parmed Medical Scheme to discuss challenges.
  • The National Assembly holds virtual mini-plenary sessions to consider committee reports on recent oversight visits and departmental performance.

Russia and Belarus stage the Zapad 2025 military exercise, traditionally used to project strength near NATO borders.

The United Nations marks the International Day for South-South Cooperation with a high-level event in New York.

The Proteas play England in the second T20 international of a three-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester.

Saturday 13 September
Ace Magashule’s African Congress for Transformation marks its 2nd anniversary at the Harry Gwala Multipurpose Centre in Sasolburg.

The Springboks play the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.

Tokyo hosts the World Athletics Championships at the Japan National Stadium, featuring over 2,000 athletes from 200 teams.

Sunday 14 September
Pope Leo XIV turns 70.

The Proteas play England in the third T20 international of the series at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

The 77th Primetime Emmy Awards take place at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.

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Ockham Communications relies on a range of sources to compile the Ockham Observer and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or omissions.