By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the national budget on 23 February, 2022.
The ministry of finance on Thursday issued an advisory – highlighting that this would be the minister’s “inaugural” speech.
“As usual, the budget allocation always aims to strike a balance between competing national spending priorities,” it said.
It said it was in this context that Godongwana invited South Africans to share their suggestions on the budget.
The Ministry said the suggestions must pertain to what should government be spending on, how to address a large budget deficit, new sources of tax revenues, and other budget-relevant information.
Meanwhile National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula announced that the sittings of the National Assembly, including the Budget Speech scheduled for February, must be retained within the precincts of Parliament, in the Good Hope Chamber.
Parliament was gutted in fierce flames which saw the National Assembly and Old Assembly buildings destroyed.
Alternative venues had since been sought as President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the State of the Nation Address on February 10 at the City Hall in Cape Town. The post-SONA debate and reply will be held at the same venue.