Cape Town — The National Council of Provinces (NCOP) passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill, which appropriates more than R1 trillion in spending for the current financial year, despite objections from opposition parties.
The Bill was first passed by the National Assembly (NA) last week and was sent to the NCOP for concurrence. The Bill, which was seized during the sixth administration before the general elections, was revived by the NA. Various budget votes across the different departments and state-owned entities were considered before the Bill was passed, SABC News reported.
The key goal of the Bill was to approve spending money from the National Revenue Fund to meet the needs of the government for the current financial year. According to NCOP chairperson, Refilwe Mthwesi-Tsipane, 43 voters were in favour of the Bill, while 11 voted against it.
The NCOP passed the 2024 Appropriation Bill & accompanying votes and schedules today. This concludes Parliament’s processing of the annual budget. The Bill will be referred to the President for assent
Report: https://t.co/qTtPaPWCfP
Bill: https://t.co/GC1ERkgAD6 pic.twitter.com/uv38uSauLx
— PMG (@PMG_SA) July 31, 2024
The main objections to the Bill came from leading opposition parties, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) and the Economic Freedom Fighters(EFF). The two parties vowed they would give the current administration a run for their money, IOL reported.
The Bill also prescribed the conditions for the spending of the funds withdrawn for the 2025/26 financial year before the commencement of the Appropriation Act. The objections came from the EFF’s Laetitia Arries and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities.
“We reject the department which does not respond to the many challenges faced by women and persons living with disability in this country,” Arries said.
The EFF’s Kennedy Meisie’s Department of Labout rejected the budget vote, saying it is the reason for the high rates of unemployment, which continues to rise with no solution in sight.
MK’s Mmabatho Mokoena who spoke on the presidential budget vote, rejected the vote, citing the widening gap between the rich and poor.
Meanwhile, the ANC said this will not derail the purpose of the GNU.
♦️Must Watch♦️
The EFF MP, Commissar @Laetitiaarries1 at the National Council of Provinces Plenary.
We reject the department which does not respond to the many challenges faced by women and persons living with disability in this country.#EFFInParliament pic.twitter.com/VrsC1Jub7y
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) July 31, 2024
♦️Must Watch♦️
The EFF MP, Kennedy Meisie at the National Council of Provinces Plenary.
This department is responsible for a decade-long trend of rising unemployment which has continued unabated, without any viable solutions to speak of.#EFFInParliament pic.twitter.com/It9toI4aBH
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) July 31, 2024
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Pixabay
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Matthew Petersen
