The National Assembly debates an EFF motion of no confidence in Speaker Thoko Didiza this week in a test of Government of National Unity cohesion.
Monday 24 August
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala returns to the Madlanga Commission. He faces further questioning over the SAPS Medicare24 health-services contract and his alleged links to figures in law enforcement.
Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi meets to consider its draft report, ahead of a new 11 September deadline for completing its work.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber and Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis open a new Home Affairs office at the Cape Town Civic Centre.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela hands over 25 cellphone repair containers in Sebokeng as part of an initiative to equip young people with skills and support small businesses.
Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson chairs the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium Leaders Forum in Cape Town, where former President Thabo Mbeki delivers the main address.
The trial of 62 alleged instigators of the July 2021 unrest resumes in the Durban High Court, beginning its second scheduled block of hearings through to 18 September.
Ukraine marks Independence Day, the 35th anniversary of its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union.
Tuesday 25 August
President Cyril Ramaphosa officially opens the Sustainable Infrastructure Development Symposium in Cape Town.
President Ramaphosa answers questions in the National Assembly on issues including South Africa’s pan-African role amid protests against foreign nationals and reforms to strengthen municipalities and improve service delivery.
Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia and Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi answer questions in the National Council of Provinces, including on the vetting of the Acting National Police Commissioner, Truth and Reconciliation Commission reparations and legal sector transformation.
Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald and Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni answer questions in the National Council of Provinces, including on overcrowding and cellphone smuggling in prisons and State Security Agency’s threat assessments.
Also in Parliament:
- The Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture is briefed on Bafana Bafana’s performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the visa mishap that delayed the team’s departure and expenditure on the government’s delegation.
- The Portfolio Committee on Transport is briefed by the South African National Roads Agency on its contractor development programme and the status of all current road projects.
- The Portfolio Committee on Transport is briefed by Airports Company South Africa on its first quarter performance.
The Centre for Development and Enterprise releases the second report in its Johannesburg Matters: Fixing South Africa’s growth engine series. Joburg’s Broken Budget sets out how years of unrealistic budgeting have driven the City into a chronic cash crisis.
The Centre for Development and Enterprise also hosts Economist editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes in conversation with its executive director Ann Bernstein, discussing the shifting global order, the impact of AI, and the roles of India, China and the US.
The two-day African Critical Minerals Summit begins in Johannesburg, bringing together government, industry and investors to discuss Africa’s role in global critical mineral value chains, investment, energy and infrastructure.
The Emirates Lions host the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, one of four provincial fixtures on New Zealand’s Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour of South Africa.
Wednesday 26 August
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola and Defence Minister Angie Motshekga answer questions in the National Council of Provinces on issues including illegal mining, defence spending, anti-immigration protests and international developments involving the US, Israel and Iran.
The National Assembly debates and votes on EFF leader Julius Malema’s motion of no confidence in Speaker Thoko Didiza, brought after she declined to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s interdict halting the Section 89 Impeachment Committee’s work.
Also in Parliament:
- The Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy is briefed by the Department on its responses to written submissions on the Gas Bill.
- The Portfolio Committee on Public Works and Infrastructure is briefed on Operation Bring Back, the Department’s programme to recover illegally occupied and unlawfully transferred state properties.
- The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans is briefed by National Treasury on the funding of military deployments, including Operation Prosper.
- The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration is briefed by the Government Employees Medical Scheme on its strategies for detecting and preventing fraud and waste to reduce medical aid expenditure.
Stats SA releases the National Poverty Lines for 2026, setting the official rand thresholds for food, lower-bound and upper-bound poverty used to measure how many South Africans fall below each line.
Thursday 27 August
The Constitutional Court hears proceedings on whether to confirm a Western Cape High Court ruling that the Finance Minister’s power to alter the VAT rate through a Budget announcement is unconstitutional.
Stats SA releases the Producer Price Index for July 2026, the latest figures on producer inflation.
Friday 28 August
Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa launches a pilot methodology to review femicide cases and identify systemic gaps in South Africa’s response to gender-based violence.
The Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament is briefed on Parliament’s draft 2027/28 annual performance plan and budget.
National Treasury releases central government debt statistics for the period ending July 2026.
Candidates for France’s 2027 presidential election hold their first major debate at the Rencontre des Entrepreneurs de France.
The Proteas play Namibia in the T20I tri-series at the new FNB Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Saturday 29 August
G20 finance and central bank deputies meet in Asheville, North Carolina as part of the United States’ G20 presidency.
The Springboks host the All Blacks at Cape Town Stadium in the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour.
The Proteas play Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series in Windhoek.
Sunday 30 August
Guinea-Bissau holds a constitutional referendum on replacing its parliamentary system with a presidential one.
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