Thoko Didiza highlights the challenges of Parliament's budget for 2025/26
Image: Supplied
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza on Tuesday said the budget allocated to Parliament for the 2025/26 financial year was not ideally what they would like.
Responding to criticisms on the institution's inadequate budget during the budget vote debate, Didiza urged MPs serving on the Finance Standing Committee, where they engage the Financial Fiscal Commission, which proposes to the National Treasury on how the budget must be constituted, to make contribution on how to alter the budget process.
She noted that they could not only talk about the budget after its tabling.
'Steps towards the budgeting process starts now, the budget policy statement gives a broad overview of the policy direction on funding until the budget is made,' she said.
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Didiza also said that as presiding officers, they engage with the National Treasury and will continue to do so on the funding model of Parliament.
'We do believe that given our responsibility of oversight over the executive, there must be adequate resourcing of this institution, if indeed, it has to do its work properly. We are working towards that,' she said.
Earlier, Didiza said the tabling of the budget enabled Parliament to focus on the key priorities.
'The budget includes allocation to our core business, which includes law making, oversight, and accountability. It also includes resources earmarked for supporting members of Parliament as they execute their functions, as well as the rebuilding of Parliament.'
The total budget for Parliament for the 2025/26 financial year is R5.08 billion and the total allocation received from the National Treasury amounted to R3.58 billion, including R500 million for the restoration and refurbishment of the parliamentary buildings.
Didiza also said it was important to ensure that committees were adequately resourced and have an insight into the resources they have on an annual basis for better planning.
'In this year's budget, we have allocated R3 million per portfolio committee. In addition, resources for public participation have been enhanced to ensure that public hearings on law-making by portfolio committees is improved.'
Didiza also said they were increasing research capacity through the appointment of more researchers.
'The capacity of our language services was raised sharply by members last year. In addressing this situation, we are recruiting more language practitioners so that at every sitting of the National Assembly and the Council, we have adequate capacity as well as in specific sessions of 13 committees, where this service becomes essential.'
She said 42% of the budget went towards members' benefits such as remuneration, entitlements, medical aid for current and former members of Parliament and Provincial Legislators, as well as the transfers to political parties for constituency work, and political party administration.
The budget included the allocation for the contribution to medical aid of former members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures to the tune of R71.2 million.
But, MK Party MP Des van Rooyen said it was heartbreaking and disappointing that the budget allocation was very far from adequate.
He said Parliament's budget was reduced by R521 million in this financial year alone.
He said there was a budget shortfall when the Government of National Unity was imposing commissions of inquiry and bloated Cabinet with Police Minister Senzo Mchunu placed on special leave and an acting minister appointed to occupy his position.
Van Rooyen also said the monies spent on the commission of inquiry and the salaries of Mchunu and acting minister should be appropriated to Parliament.
'We call for full capacity of an independent Parliament to run and execute its affairs without reliance on other department, such as Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. We must establish a multiparty budget committee to lobby and mobilise resources from the national fiscus,' Van Rooyen added.
EFF chief whip Nontando Nolutshungu said her party had warned about bad decision budget cuts that they would weaken democracy ,and treating Parliament as side show.
She said the budget made it harder for committees to meet and allowed ministers to dodge accountability with no consequences.
'What we see is a threat to democracy,' Nolutshungu said. 'All this happens when billions are wasted on corruption, endless dialogues, and commissions of inquiry,' she said.
ACDP MP Steven Swart blamed the reduced budget to failure by MPs to use their powers to amend it.
'Let us make sure we use of our powers. Let's not ring our hands and say there is no money when we can shift the budget. We have the power but to date, it is not being used,' Swart said.
DA chief whip George Michalakis said Parliament needed to be managed properly.
He questioned the unnecessary spending on overseas trips with massive delegations that were planned at the last minutes.
Michalakis asked why there was still feeding of MPs in committee meetings when they could bring their lunch boxes.
He also said there should be a moratorium on filling new posts except with approval of the National Treasury.
Michalakis also said business travel on flights should be limited, and that outsourcing of broadcasting should be limited or stopped completely and ensure what Parliament was meant to do, such as oversight and law-making, among other things, was prioritised.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za
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