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IOL News
9 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
National Assembly passes Appropriation Bill amid opposition objections
The Appropriation Bill easily mustered majority with 262 votes against 90 votes. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The National Assembly on Wednesday passed several departmental votes despite objections from the opposition parties during a marathon session at the Cape Town International Conference Centre. This was after the first reading of the Appropriation Bill was passed, paving the way for the approval of the full schedule of votes for 42 departmental and entities and the second reading of the Bill. The Bill easily mustered a majority with 262 when the ANC, the DA, IFP, Patriotic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, ActionSA, UDM, Al-Jama-ah, Build One South Africa, Rise Mzansi, GOOD, and PAC voted in favour. The MK Party, EFF, ATM, National Coloured Congress, and United African Transformation voted against, with a combined 90 votes. The Presidency was the first budget to be voted for, followed by Parliament, and then the other departments and entities. As voting continued, individual departmental votes were each passed despite the EFF and MK Party consistently asking for the division of the House. Speaking during the debate, Deputy Minister for Finance David Masondo called on the parties to pass the Budget to allow the national government to spend R1.23 trillion to deliver services to protect the vulnerable and invest in the country's shared future. Masondo warned that the absence of the Appropriation Bill will mean that the government may only spend 45% of the previous year's Budget until the end of July, and thereafter 10% of the previous Budget. 'Our estimation overall by October is that the government will be without authority when we reach 100% of last year's appropriation,' he said. He also said failure to pass the Budget would delay critical priorities of the government. 'We should not prolong or object to the passing of this Bill. It is ultimately the most vulnerable members of society who depend on grants, public schools, and clinics who will suffer the most due to our inactions,' Masondo said. Build One South Africa and Standing Committee on Appropriations Chairperson Mmusi Maimane said the Budget was passed in severely constrained economic conditions. 'Our inherent problem is a problem of growth. As our economy is not growing, it means we have fewer resources to be able to redistribute to our citizens,' Maimane said. He called for improvements in the Budget process to give effect to the timelines of the Money Bill Act. 'I want to urge going into the next cycle to ensure we establish our priorities that we are clear with economic reform, we budget accordingly, and ensure the Budget process is smoother and people of South Africa can experience fullness of participation in the Appropriation Bill,' Maimane said. MK Party MP Sanele Mwali said it was disheartening that the country fell apart and the government prescribes the same economic, fiscal, and monetary policy, which failed to bring change and impoverished millions of citizens. 'Economic stagnation and high unemployment with obsession with debt reduction at the expense of investment and growth, and stimulate new economic activity,' Mwali said. DA MP Kingley's Hope Wakelin spoke against the R700m budgeted for the upcoming National Dialogue, saying the money could be used for tangible projects such as RDP houses, a job-seekers' grant, and free basic electricity for the indigent. 'The people do not want to see R700 million wasted on another expensive dialogue,' he said. He also said spending reviews should be implemented, an exercise that should look beyond reworking the Budget but eliminate duplications, and stop underperforming programmes and political vanity projects. 'These reviews should form part of the 2026 Budget planning,' he said. EFF MP Omphile Maotwe rejected the Appropriation Bill, saying some members of 'the gang unit' were happy to be in government to enjoy the gravy train and were not caring about the country's future. She accused some in the Government of National Unity who previously opposed the same Budget every year. IFP chief whip Nhanhla Hadebe said they were concerned that the allocations did to go far enough to address challenges facing the people. 'While we commend the National Treasury to contain expenditure and limit debt service cost, fiscal consolidation must not come at the cost of service delivery,' Hadebe said. Rise Mzansi MP Songezo Zibi observed that the Budget was not perfect and that South Africans wanted the government and Parliament to work on the available fiscal envelope. Zibi said the executive and Parliament should begin to make choices and prioritise programmes that were more important than others. 'Programmes that support economic growth and employment, safety, health, and education in modern skills are obviously a priority, but even those must be thoroughly examined for effectiveness,' he said, adding that programmes that can't produce evidence of sustainable impact must be reviewed and changed or stopped altogether. The vote on the departments' voting was continuing in the evening after 7pm. [email protected]
Eyewitness News
12 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Failure to finalise budget will hurt SA's vulnerable members of society the most
JOHANNESBURG - Deputy finance minister and African National Congress (ANC) MP, David Masondo, said that political squabbling over the budget would come at a high price for service delivery. Masondo's warning about the impact on South Africans comes as MPs prepare to vote on the Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly on Wednesday afternoon. If it passes, it will bring to a close four months of an intense back-and-forth between parties over government's spending plans. ALSO READ: • Budget 2025: MK Party, EFF call Appropriation Bill anti-poor • Parliament's Appropriations Committee stresses importance of economic growth to support social wage • Steenhuisen: DA will support Appropriation Bill • Parliament preps for possibility & implications of national budget not being passed Masondo said that failing to finalise the budget would hurt the vulnerable the most. In budget 3.0, National Treasury focused on plans to address the persistent spending pressures to restore critical frontline services and invest in infrastructure. This is part of a broader plan to improve access to basic services and turn the economy around. The delays in tabling the budget and voting in favour of it mean that from August, government will only be able to spend 10 percent of the previous year's appropriation budget per month. Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo: "Our estimation is that by October 2025, the government will be without authority when we reach 100% of last year's appropriation." He said that the cost to service delivery was insurmountable. "We should not prolong the passing of this bill because ultimately, it is the most vulnerable members of society who depend on grants, public clinics and schools who will suffer the most." The EFF and MK Party are expected to vote against the Appropriation Bill, while ANC and DA MPs are expected to vote in favour of it.
IOL News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MK Party demands resignation of KZN MECs, slams 'Dynasty Driven by Corruption'
The MK Party calls for KZN MECs Nomagugu Simelane and Sipho Hlomuka to resign, citing serious corruption allegations, misuse of public funds, and political patronage undermining healthcare and education services in the province. Image: File The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has called for the immediate resignation of KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane and Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka, following what it describes as serious and deeply troubling revelations of corruption, abuse of power, and political patronage. The party has given both MECs until July 26, 2025, to resign, failing which it will submit a formal removal request to the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Nontembeko Boyce. In a statement, the MK Party expressed "deep concern and serious disappointment at the troubling revelations recently brought to light" and stated that its caucus in the provincial legislature refuses to address Simelane and Hlomuka as "Honourable", saying the title "is meant to uphold integrity, not be inherited and stained through corruption". The party claims that Simelane's family business, Kwazi-Gugu Investments CC, allegedly received duplicated payments totaling R1.42 million from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture. It further alleged that in 2008, her family controversially acquired a farm through a loan from Ithala Bank, then led by Zweli Mkhize, who also allegedly facilitated an R11.8 million loan for his own wife. From 2014 to 2019, Simelane chaired the KZN Legislature's Agriculture Portfolio Committee, overseeing the same department accused of funnelling funds to her family. According to the party, these financial benefits continued even after her appointment as Health MEC, while public healthcare services deteriorated and hospitals reportedly ran short of medication. MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said: 'This is not governance. This is nothing else but a dynasty driven by corruption.' The party also accuses Hlomuka of presiding over a compromised Department of Education, citing allegations of political interference in the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), tender rigging, and procurement manipulation. A leaked list of service providers, allegedly handpicked and linked to Hlomuka, has emerged, pointing to what the party describes as an unlawful network of political patronage. The improper appointment of the Department of Education's CFO, the party says, further reveals deep systemic rot under Hlomuka's leadership. Ndhlela added: 'The MK Party's caucus in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature rightfully refuse to address Sipho Hlomuka and Nomagugu Simelane as 'Honourable', when this title is meant to uphold integrity, not be inherited and stained through corruption.' The MK Party is demanding the immediate suspension of what it calls a "rotten and illegal tender process" and has called for a full, independent investigation. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ It is also calling on the President to issue a proclamation authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to probe the matter, and for the Auditor-General, the Public Protector, and the Hawks to urgently investigate all public funds received by Kwazi-Gugu Investments CC and any other entities linked to the implicated individuals. 'Our country is not, and will never be, a feeding trough for ANC-linked elites. The people of South Africa have suffered enough and will no longer fund political dynasties while their children starve and services collapse. "We, the MK Party, will not stand idly by while corruption wears the mask of leadership. This is a fight for truth, dignity and the future of our people," said Ndhlela. When approached for comment, spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health told IOL: 'Please direct your queries to the ANC. She occupies her current position through ANC deployment, not through the Department of Health.' Attempts to obtain a response from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education spokesperson were unsuccessful, while the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson indicated that a response would be provided in due course. The ANC's response will be included once it has been received. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL Politics
Eyewitness News
15 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Budget 2025: MK Party, EFF call Appropriation Bill anti-poor
CAPE TOWN - The two biggest opposition parties, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said they will not vote in support of the Appropriation Bill, calling it anti-poor. The National Assembly is currently debating the bill, which appropriates money to all government departments. ALSO READ: The Appropriation Bill is the last hurdle in the contentious budget process, which has taken longer than usual due to Government of National Unity (GNU) infighting. The MK Party said it rejects the budget that fails to bring about change for poor South Africans, while the EFF said it's no different to previous budgets. The official opposition, the MK Party, said the Appropriation Bill fails to address blockages in the economy like unemployment and funding key frontline services. The party's Sanele Mwali said the GNU continues to pursue the same policies that have also failed to address economic stagnation. 'Today, unemployment sits at 43%, with youth sitting at over 60%. Food prices have been rising with government unable to regulate effectively the food cartels in our country.' EFF Member of Parliament (MP) Omphile Maotwe said the budget is just a copy and paste of previous administrations, which most GNU partners rejected in the past. 'We are still not sure why some in the GNU today support this budget because it is the same budget that was tabled in the past ten years, and they rejected it in each of those years.' The party said the bill should be amended to increase the health and basic education budgets to employ more doctors and teachers.
IOL News
17 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
LIVE: National Assembly debates final budget legislation, DA to support it but MK Party to oppose it
The National Assembly is debating the Appropriation Bill, the final piece of legislation needed to pass the 2025 and 2026 national budget. The National Assembly is debating the Appropriation Bill, the final piece of legislation needed to pass the 2025 national budget. However, the DA said it would vote in favor of the bill following the dismissal of Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, but MK Party said it will not support the bill. The sitting is taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The meeting will include the consideration of the Standing Committee on Appropriations' report on the Appropriation Bill, a debate on the Appropriation Bill, and votes on the schedule of the Appropriation Bill, which outlines the budgets for each department and entity. It will also include the second reading of the Appropriation Bill, which is the final vote on the bill After the conclusion of Budget vote debates in departmental allocations, the National Assembly will consider and vote on the Appropriation Bill. IOL News reported that the DA has made a u-turn, saying that it will support the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Bill after President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to fire Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane over the SETA board appointment saga. The DA said Ramaphosa was forced to yield to sustained pressure from the party to ensure the passage of the bill, which allocates funding to national departments. 'The Democratic Alliance will support the 2025/26 Appropriation Bill following the president's decision to dismiss Minister Nkabane after sustained DA pressure. This decision is the crucial first step in holding compromised ministers accountable,' the party said in a statement. 'While long overdue, the removal of Minister Nkabane confirms that pressure from the DA within the Government of National Unity is yielding results.
