Parliament searching for venue to host Godongwana's third attempt at tabling a budget
CAPE TOWN - The finance minister's third attempt at tabling a budget has become a logistical headache for Parliament, giving the administration less than three weeks to find a venue to host it.The dome tent which was erected earlier this year for plenary sessions is off limits this May, to allow for it to be reinforced ahead of the winter months and for the interior to be refurbished.Both the failed attempt in February and the budget tabling in March were held in the dome, with Parliament's National Assembly chamber currently undergoing post-fire reconstruction.Parliament is set to return to hybrid plenary sittings in May, allowing for only around 200 MPs to attend physically in the Good Hope Chamber.Other than the chamber of the National Council of Provinces, there's no space big enough on the parliamentary precinct to accommodate over 400 members and staff since the fire razed two chambers in 2022.Parliament has had to hire flooring, furniture and information technology equipment to set up the dome as a working space, and is now wanting to acquire permanent fixtures to reduce costs.The Cape Town City Hall has been used for budget tabling in the past, with costs associated with the Cape Town International Convention Centre used for the inauguration of members said to be too high.But the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is insistent all members must be present when Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables a new budget on 21 May.The party's Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi: "We can't back to use the virtual platform. As things stand, there's no budget. People are confused, they don't know what will happen. Now we must be told we must not be grandstanding but we must grandstand because we are protecting the voiceless."
Godongwana revealed in a parliamentary reply to the EFF in April that the Treasury had spent R2.4 million in preparation for the failed budget tabling in February.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
WATCH: Mobile network operators grilled by MP's over data costs
MP's grilled mobile network operators relating to the cost and expiration of data. Mobile network operators (MNO) Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom and Rain have come under fire over poor connectivity and their pricing and expiration for services such as data. The mobile network operators appeared before the Communications Committee on Friday to provide an update on the challenges and progress made in achieving universal connectivity. Members of Parliament (MPs) grilled the MNOs relating to the cost of data and called for them to consider measures to further reduce the cost of communication and prioritise rural connectivity. While the CEOs of the MNOs told the committee that they've made major strides in expanding coverage, especially in the 5G network space, MPs questioned their data pricing and the issue of expiring data. Data costs EFF MP and national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo riaised concerns about data and airtime expiry. Thambo challenged the logic behind data and airtime expiry, questioning whether it was a purely capitalist scheme designed to exploit consumers. He argued that since data and airtime are not perishable goods, their expiry policies are unjust and violate consumer rights by allowing mobile operators to profit unfairly. 'I don't doubt there is a logical financial explanation for the expiring mandates of data and airtime…Which may be logical to you, but continues to undermine access to information for ordinary South Africans and their ability to live in this country.' WATCH Colleen Makhubele in Parliament This week at a glance: 'You have become loan sharks to the poor. Instead of cutting data costs, you are advancing it – loaning them.' – Chief Whip Hon. Colleen Makhubele raising concerns about network service providers and their exhorbitant pricing for products such as data and… — MK Party in Parliament (@MKParliament) June 14, 2025 ALSO READ: Malatsi takes action to lower smart devices and phone costs in SA 'Loan sharks' MK party MP Colleen Makhubele accused the operators of preying on the poor. 'You have become loan sharks to the poor. Instead of cutting data costs, you are advancing it – loaning them.' Political parties also noted the high salaries paid to some of the CEOs of the network operators, calling on them to help contribute to uplifting poor and rural communities. Engagements Chairperson of the committee, Khusela Sangoni Diko, stated that all the information received will be useful when the committee meets to deliberate on the budget of the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in the coming weeks. Diko said the committee also called for increased engagement on the issue of prepaid data expiration. 'I think we may have to engage more on this topic, especially because people buy this data, and it cannot simply disappear on the basis of MNO-determined timelines.' ♦️Must Watch♦️ EFF MP @Sinawo_Thambo delivers a scathing critique in the Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies, calling out the 'revolving door' culture between regulators and mobile network operators. Commissar Thambo questions the ethics of former… — Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) June 13, 2025 Competition In the interest of national security and technology sovereignty, the Committee called on the MNOs to consider mobilising their own resources to build the country's own satellite for communication. MTN SA CEO Charles Molapisi told the committee that outside South Africa, the operator has partnerships with non-terrestrial and satellite players such as Starlink. Molapisi said he welcomed Starlink to South Africa, as MTN would welcome all competition. 'I always say we are not fixated on one key player, Molapisi said. 'We see satellite players as one bundle. I'm sure the committee is aware that in some of our markets outside South Africa, we've already done partnerships with the likes of Starlink.' ALSO READ: Fibre, cheaper data and weaver birds: Ramaphosa promises innovation Regulatory requirements Vodacom CEO Sitholizwe Mdlalose told the committee that the MNO was guided by President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent remarks, which stated that Starlink had not been discussed in meetings with the US government, and by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola's remarks that the government's commitment to attracting foreign direct investment did not refer to Starlink. 'Vodacom recognises satellite networks as complementary to mobile and fixed networks/ We believe they play a role in accelerating digital inclusion and bridging the connectivity divide, especially in hard-to-reach areas. 'Our position has consistently been that there must be a level playing field for all market participants. This is not specific to Starlink, but a matter of principle. Any new entrant to the South African telecommunications sector should be subject to the same regulatory requirements that govern licensed operators,' Mdlalose said. Starlink In May, South Africa took a step closer to obtaining Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service after Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi published a policy direction to provide alternatives, paving the way for the service in the country. The proposed policy direction was published in the Government Gazette. 'It provides applicants with a workaround to rules on who can acquire a licence to provide electronic communications services or to operate an electronic communications network in the Electronic Communications Act (ECA) that require a minimum of 30% shares to be in the hands of historically disadvantaged individuals. 'These regulations currently prevent companies, regardless of whether they are large international firms that typically do not sell shares to local partners, from qualifying for individual licences under the ECA, even if they can contribute to South Africa's transformation goals through means other than traditional ownership. Musk not black Talks on launching Starlink in South Africa stalled earlier this year after South African-born Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump ramped up public rhetoric against policies such as the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) laws, which mandate that foreign-owned telecoms companies allocate at least 30% of local equity to historically disadvantaged groups, primarily black South Africans. Musk claimed Starlink was barred from operating in South Africa because he is not black, an allegation South African officials refuted. ALSO READ: WATCH: Starlink not debated with Trump, Ramaphosa says
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Debate around political cult of personality
JOHANNESBURG - US President Donald Trump's Afrikaner genocide claims included a video he showed to President Cyril Ramaphosa of EFF leader Julius Malema singing the Kill the Boer struggle song. He demanded to know why Ramaphosa has not arrested Malema. While the genocide debate rages on, many observers have started to compare Trump and Malema's political methods. In addition there seem to be similarities, particularly the appeal of populist ideas and policies.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Vodacom CEO faces backlash over R99 for 5GB data statements
Vodacom CEO Sitholizwe Mdlalose asserted that consumers can purchase 5GB of mobile data for just R99. Image: Screengrab Vodacom CEO Sitholizwe Mdlalose asserted that South African consumers can purchase 5GB of mobile data for just R99, igniting a storm of criticism on social media platforms. Addressing the Communications and Digital Technologies Portfolio Committee, Mdlalose highlighted a significant drop in data prices, reporting a reduction of nearly 50% over the last two years. 'One can look at that and see the retail price of that in 2019 was R149 for one gigabyte of data. As we have become more efficient, as the spectrum has been deployed and given, and as new technologies have come on, you can see the progression in the headline retail rate,' he said. 'You can see a very dramatic drop, especially post the spectrum allocation, where one gigabyte of data at a retail rate in 2021 was R85. Today, you can buy five gigabytes for R99. Essentially, that gives a view of how the rate has moved over time,' Mdlalose said. 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. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ He made the statement when mobile network operators (MNOs) made presentations on progress made towards the national goal of universal connectivity and the approaches towards further reducing the cost of communication, among others. However, Mdlalose's assertion was met with widespread scepticism and disdain on the social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). User @ApostleDeza challenged his saying: 'There is NO ONE in South Africa Buying 5GB for R99! Bathong!' @Apostle_Deza hoped that EFF MPs would 'hold this man accountable for his White Lies', but another X user warned of wanting to embarrass them. While some X users shared the sentiment that Mdlalose was lying and showing prices that did not display the 5GB for R99, user @Mxoza1 said: 'He is referring to this 5GB of LTE.' EFF MP Sixolise Gcilishe took up the issue of the reduction of data during the question-and-answer session. 'I think if we really have the same objective with the MNOs, we're not going to lie to each other or we're not going to deliberately mislead each other,' Gcilishe said. She said that after Mdlalose mentioned the 5GB for R99, she had taken her phone and tried to check what he was saying. 'The first thing I realised in the exercise I was doing was the inconsistencies as far as the pricing is concerned. When you check on your phone, you're going to buy with your airtime. The prices are different if you're buying through a bank.' Gcilishe also said the five gigabytes for R99 was for the data offers. 'That is for the modems when I had to check. Maybe you can clarify that because then now you're giving us an impression that there is five gigabytes that people can get for that amount.' She insisted that the reduction in data pricing was according to the packages and the modems, 'which is not something that the poor people are enjoying. They're not enjoying modems and the data packages.' In response, Mdlalose said the 5GB for R99 was available on mobile. 'It's not a separate internet offer. It's actually there. In fact, as the session was going on, honourable chair, there were people on social media asking about it. Our team has responded to them, shown them exactly where they can buy it. It's fully available. It's not hidden somewhere,' he said. 'The fact that you are not aware that that is available is part of the challenge for us to make you aware of that,' Mdlalose said. He added that within their business, there were different ways to distribute their products, and each of those different channels has different commercials that you need to pay for. 'There might be different prices on different channels, but ultimately, the five gigabytes is available for customers, available on all of our channels that we distribute directly,' Mdlalose said.
