TUESDAY, 10:00AM:
The National Council of Provinces has three days to approve or reject 30 crucial Bills this week affecting housing, health, justice and education. Most have already been approved by the National Assembly.
Among the Bills the NCoP will be whipping through are the Health Department’s three controversial measures on parallel imports of prescription medicines, community service for medical school graduates and a pharmacy Bill; the Justice Department’s Bills tightening bail and parole regulations; the Home Affairs Department’s Bill for a new identification system; and the Education Department’s Bill overturning a court decision and requiring schools to hire teachers from the government’s list of candidates for redeployment.
On Monday, the NCoP Justice Committee amended sentencing provisions in the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, allowing courts to hear oral as well as written submissions in resentencing former death row prisoners and compelling courts to take into account the period they have already served.