The North West Legislature on behalf of the SA Legislative Sector hosted the Masterclass in Public Policy and AI in practice in Brits, North West from 15-17 July 2026. WITS lecturers Dr Caryn Abrahams and Dr Sandile Mbatha captivated learners from Parliament and Provincial Legislatures by exploring governance approaches that aim to rebuild public trust through public value, focusing in particular on AI governance frameworks and sharing insights into AI oversight and application by Legislatures.  

[Programme delivery supported by the European Union]

At the June 2026 meeting of the Speakers’ Forum of South Africa, the members reflected on the resilience of South Africa’s democratic governance over the past thirty years and acknowledged the country’s progress in strengthening democratic institutions while noting the ongoing need to improve governance, particularly within local government. Legislatures were encouraged to continue working collaboratively to strengthen oversight and ensure that provincial perspectives continue to inform national governance processes.

Key to guiding the work of the Speakers’ Forum, is the SA Legislative Sector Strategic Plan for the 7^th term which was adopted for implementation. Central to discussions were matters related to PARMED and the Public Office-Bearers Pension Fund, Sector harmonisation and preparations for the hosting of the 69^th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference from 13-18 September 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.