By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Appropriation Bill vote succeeded with 262 MPs in favour, 90 against and no abstentions — exceeding the required simple majority in the 400-seat National Assembly.
MPs convened at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Wednesday to debate and vote on the Appropriation Bill.
The vote followed a day-long sitting at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, where Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo warned MPs of the consequences of failing to pass the Bill.
“Without passing this Bill, the government will lose authority to spend beyond 45% of last year’s budget after July,” Masondo said.
This meant departments would not be able to pay salaries or sustain basic services.
He urged MPs to stay focused and ensure that service delivery was not interrupted. “This Bill must be passed in full to allow departments to function properly,” he said.
The Bill allocates R1.2 trillion over the medium term. Of this, R400 billion has been earmarked for transport infrastructure, R220 billion for energy initiatives and R160 billion for water and sanitation. Additional funds have been allocated to public health, education and social protection.
MPs were allowed to indicate if they wished to vote differently from their party, but none did.
Committee chairperson Mmusi Maimane called for efficient governance despite the difficult economic conditions.
“This budget takes place under severely constrained economic conditions. We must ensure our budgeting processes are efficient so that the people of South Africa can participate fully in their own appropriation.”
The DA had initially signalled it would not support the individual budgets of departments implicated in corruption, but changed its mind after President Cyril Ramaphosa removed higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane who is accused of misleading parliament regarding board appointments at Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas).
The Patriotic Alliance’s Ashley Sauls criticised delays and politicking ahead of the Bill, arguing that the DA had only supported it after scoring political points against the ANC in the form of Nkabane’s axing.
Rise Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi said although the departmental budgets are not perfect, debating forever without supporting the Bill would imperil the poorest in the country.
The IFP, FF+ and UDM, while supporting the Bill, raised concerns about the lack of targeted interventions, with IFP MP Nhlanhla Hadebe arguing that poverty and youth unemployment were not being adequately addressed.
The Freedom Front Plus MP, Wouter Wessels, called for tighter fiscal controls, while the UDM’s Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said the budget offered hope but fell short on public participation.
“The budget makes us feel like we are going to get there,” he said.
The official opposition uMkhonto weSizwe party and Economic Freedom Fighters opposed the bill.
A quorum of 201 MPs was required for the vote, as the National Assembly consists of 400 members.
The Appropriation Bill needed a simple majority – at least 201 votes to pass.
ANC, which holds 159 seats, was joined by the DA with 87 seats, IFP 12, Patriotic Alliance with 9, Freedom Front Plus with 5, ActionSA with 5, African Christian Democratic Party with two, United Democratic Movement with two, Rise Mzansi with two, BOSA with two, Al Jama-ah with one, Pan Africanist Congress with one, and GOOD Party with one in supporting the bill.
The final vote tally was 262 in favor, 90 against, and no abstentions. The bill was then approved.
The NCOP must adopt the bill by 31 July in accordance with the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, which requires Parliament to pass, amend, or reject the legislation within four months of the start of the financial year. Once approved by the NCOP, the budget process is formally concluded, and the implementation of the national budget can begin.
Watch Live in the video below:
Video Courtesy of Parliament.