Latest news with #DivisionofRevenueBill
IOL News
7 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
This is how Parliament approves the National Budget
As the NCOP moves toward its critical vote, the implications of the Appropriation Bill are vast, influencing service delivery and development across the country's provinces. This decision will ultimately shape the economic and social landscape in South Africa for the financial year ahead. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The stage is set for a pivotal moment in South Africa's budget process as the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) gears up to consider and vote on the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday This action comes on the heels of the National Assembly's (NA) adoption of the bill on July 23, 2025, marking a significant step in the nation's fiscal planning for the coming year. The NCOP's role is integral in ensuring that provincial interests are adequately represented in the national budget, particularly in the allocation and utilisation of public funds. As a Section 77 money bill originating from the NA, the Appropriation Bill serves as an essential framework allowing the government to utilise specified public funds across various departments and services. The budget process and the Appropriation Bill The budget process kicks off each February with the Minister of Finance's presentation of budget documents to Parliament, which includes: The Fiscal Framework and Revenue Proposals, detailing the country's economic outlook and tax policies. The Division of Revenue Bill, outlining the distribution of funds among national, provincial, and local governments. The Appropriation Bill, which allocates specific monetary amounts to each national department. Following the tabling of the budget, Parliament must approve the Fiscal Framework within 16 days, after which the Division of Revenue Bill is passed. This sets the stage for the introduction of the Appropriation Bill, essential for funding the operational goals of government departments. Stages within the NCOP The NCOP's consideration of the Appropriation Bill unfolds in three main stages, allowing for a thorough examination: Consideration by Select Committee: The bill is referred to the Select Committee on Appropriations, where its implications on service delivery and provincial impact are scrutinised. The committee will prepare a report recommending the bill's adoption. The bill is referred to the Select Committee on Appropriations, where its implications on service delivery and provincial impact are scrutinised. The committee will prepare a report recommending the bill's adoption. Consideration of Department Votes and Schedule: Members will assess the budget allocation for each department, referred to as 'Votes.' Political parties can express their intentions through declarations of Vote. A total of 90 votes are possible, with each delegate from the provinces holding one vote. Members will assess the budget allocation for each department, referred to as 'Votes.' Political parties can express their intentions through declarations of Vote. A total of 90 votes are possible, with each delegate from the provinces holding one vote. Final Consideration: After all departmental Votes are adopted, the Select Committee's report on the Appropriation Bill is presented to the House, where a final vote on the bill as a whole occurs. While the NCOP cannot amend the Appropriation Bill, it may propose amendments. If the bill is rejected, it will be returned to the NA, which possesses the authority to override the NCOP's decision by passing the bill once again. The finalisation process The Appropriation Bill will only be regarded as passed once both Houses of Parliament – the NCOP and the NA – have approved it. Upon agreement, the bill is sent to the President for assent, becoming an Act of Parliament. This Act then officially authorises government departments to allocate and spend public funds in line with the budget approved by Parliament. IOL
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Willies Mchunu defends MPLs' decision to oppose the Division of Revenue Bill
MKP convenor in KwaZulu-Natal Willies Mchunu says the party will not discipline the six MPLs who voted against the Bill. Image: supplied Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) will not discipline the 'rebelling' six members of KwaZulu-Natal Legislature who voted against the Division of Revenue Bill because they did the 'right thing' This was confirmed by the party's provincial leader Willies Mchunu on Saturday. He said there was no plan to act against the six MPLs for their action which the party does not deem wrong. He stated that when you look at the national leadership position on the Bill which rejected it, the six members do not seem to be in the wrong. Mchunu further stated that there was no communication between the provincial leadership and the caucus before voting therefore the party will not act against anyone, adding that he has directed the caucus to discuss the matter and find each other. 'We will not act against anyone in this matter and we have directed our caucus to sort it out themselves in the legislature. I think there was a misunderstanding,' said Mchunu. In an unprecedented move last week, six party MPLs broke ranks with the caucus and voted against the bill while 31 other members supported during the chamber sitting, prompting calls for action against the 'rebelling' MPLs, however, the members defended their decision. The member who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday denied going against the party's position, saying it was him and other five members who kept the long-standing position and voted against the Bill. He stated that firstly, the new chief whip Bonginkosi Mngadi never called a caucus meeting before voting and there was no new instruction for members to vote in a particular way. He said in the absence of an instruction, the six of them followed a long-standing position that the MKP will never support anything that comes from the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) since the party believes the elections were rigged. Furthermore, the member said to prove that they were not wrong, the party has not charged them after explaining their side to the provincial leadership under convener Willies Mchunu. The member further said that in their engagement with Mchunu it "became clear that it was an oversight from those who supported the Bill". However, the party chief whip Bonginkosi Mngadi disputed the member's version that there was no meeting or mandate to support the Bill. He stated that he called a caucus meeting where he informed the members of the position and even articulated the position when he spoke for the party before voting for the Bill. 'I am chief whip of the party in the legislature and spoke in the chamber that the party will support the Bill since it was talking about transparency and accountability so I was speaking on behalf of the party,' said Mngadi. He said he would not want to discuss the matter further since it was reported to the provincial leadership. There was also confusion when the same Bill was voted in parliament on Wednesday where the MKP chief whip Colleen Makhubekele voted yes for the bill only to change her vote later, arguing that she thought the vote was about the Ad hoc committee on allegations of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's interference in police operations which we were reported by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. [email protected]
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Six MKP members in KZN defend their vote against the Division of Revenue Bill
The KwaZulu-Natal Legislature building in Pietermaritzburg. Image: Shan Pillay One of the six Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) members of KwaZulu-Natal legislature who voted against the Division of Revenue Bill has defended their decision and accused the party MPLs who supported it as out of line. In an unprecedented move, six party MPLs broke ranks with the caucus and voted against the bill while 31 other members supported during the chamber sitting last week, prompting calls for action against the 'rebelling' MPLs. The member who spoke on condition of anonymity on Thursday denied going against the party's position, saying it was him and other five members who kept the long-standing position and voted against the Bill. He stated that firstly, the new chief whip never called a caucus meeting before voting and there was no new instruction for members to vote in a particular way therefore the six of them followed a long-standing position that the MKP will never support anything that comes from the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) since the party believes the elections were rigged. 'We hear people saying we undermined the party's instruction and we wonder which one because we never received any instruction to vote for this bill nor were we called to a caucus meeting before voting. In the absence of any new instruction, we decided to follow the long-standing position we were given when the government was constituted last year that our party will not support any thing that would come with the GPU since we were robbed of an opportunity that was given to us by the voters to be the government of the province,' said the member. Furthermore, the member said to prove that they were not wrong, the party has not charged them after explaining their side to the provincial leadership under convener Willies Mchunu. The member further said that in their engagement with Mchunu it "became clear that it was an oversight from those who supported the Bill". However, the party chief whip Bonginkosi Mngadi disputed the member's version that there was no meeting or mandate to support the Bill. He stated that he called a caucus meeting where he informed the members of the position and even articulated the position when he spoke for the party before voting for the Bill. 'I am chief whip of the party in the legislature and spoke in the chamber that the party will support the Bill since it was talking about transparency and accountability so I was speaking on behalf of the party,' said Mngadi. He said he would not want to discuss the matter further since it was reported to the provincial leadership. Attempts to get Willies Mchunu were unsuccessful. There was also confusion when the same Bill was voted in parliament on Wednesday where the MKP chief whip Colleen Makhubekele voted yes for the bill only to change her vote later, arguing that she thought the vote was about the Ad hoc committee on allegations of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's interference in police operations which we were reported by KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. [email protected]
Eyewitness News
23-07-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Budget 2025 expected to be settled when Parly sits to vote for Appropriation Bill
JOHANNESBURG - The Budget 2025 mayhem is expected to be settled on Wednesday when Parliament sits to vote on the Appropriation Bill in the last step to finalise what has been a contentious process. The Appropriation Bill sets out allocations to departments from the national budget. A parliamentary legal opinion suggests that the Appropriation Bill can only be passed if all departmental votes have been agreed to. But it won't be fiscal policy in the spotlight on Wednesday, with months of political tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) overshadowing legislation. Every February, the minister of finance presents a package of budget documents to Parliament, including the fiscal framework and revenue proposals, the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriation Bill. Parliament must consider these budget instruments and money bills in that order and according to stipulated timeframes. In the past, it's been a largely seamless process, with the ANC's seats enough to pass all the bills even when the opposition rejected some of them. But after losing its House majority at the last general elections, it's now taken a lot more negotiation to get the budget over the line. After some hiccups with the initial budget speech, the fiscal framework was approved with the DA's buy-in almost two months ago. The Division of Revenue Bill that allocates money to the three spheres of government got the thumbs up, just before new tensions were sparked between the two main coalition parties after the DA's Andrew Whitfield was axed as deputy trade minister. This impasse led the DA to once again put out its bargaining chips, calling for ministers implicated in corruption to be fired or it would reject the Appropriation Bill at Wednesday's sitting. While Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is out, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane remains. The DA said Nkabane's firing is sufficient for it to back the budget. What happens in the next few hours will likely be another defining moment for the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the country.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
News you should know tonight: Top 5 stories you may have missed on July 16, 2025
President Cyril Ramaphosa claims the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed with challenges in mind, including unemployment, rampant crime, poverty, corruption, and restoring the trust of the people, despite the ANC having lost its majority in the May 2024 general elections. Phando Jikelo Good evening, IOL News family! It's Wednesday, July 16, 2025, and it's time for a wrap of the biggest headlines making waves in South Africa and beyond. Don't forget to join the IOL WhatsApp Channel to stay in tune, informed, and in the know. Hlophe to Ramaphosa: 'A President broken beyond repair, your couch swallowed millions, you claim to fight corruption?' MK Party deputy president and MP John Hlophe launched a scathing attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa in Parliament on Wednesday, calling him a 'President broken beyond repair' and accusing him of hypocrisy over the Phala Phala scandal. To read on, click here. Ramaphosa says GNU was formed to fix unemployment, crime, and corruption in SA President Cyril Ramaphosa claims the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed with challenges in mind, including unemployment, rampant crime, poverty, corruption, and restoring the trust of the people, despite the ANC having lost its majority in the May 2024 general elections. To read on, click here. ANC and DA condemn MK Party's chaos over Division of Revenue Bill The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has criticised the MK Party for its handling and ultimate rejection of the Division of Revenue (DORA) Bill, which was passed during a special sitting of the KZN Legislature on Tuesday. To read on, click here. 'Choose your emojis carefully': Workplaces urged to establish emoji use policies Companies can no longer afford to ignore the use of emojis in the workplace, and should take steps to update their social media policies. To read on, click here. ARVs in the water: Department of Health calls for serious action The Department of Health believes that while the discovery of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in the country's tap water and rivers means those needing them are taking them, there is a need for stakeholders who clean our water to be more responsible. To read on, click here. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL News
