Division of Revenue Bill [B3-2020]: Final Mandates & Committee Report

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone to the consideration of final mandates on the Division of Revenue Bill and adoption of draft Committee Report on the Bill. The Bill was referred to the Committee for concurrence on 20 March 2020. She invited Members to read final mandates from their respective provinces.

Eastern Cape
Mr Z Nkiva (ANC; EC) said the provincial legislature supports the Bill and mandated the delegation to vote in favour of the Bill.

Free State
Mr M Moletsane (EFF; Free State) said the provincial legislature votes in favour of the Bill.

Gauteng
Mr D Ryder (DA) said the provincial legislature supports the principle and detail of the Bill and therefore votes in favour of it.

KwaZulu-Natal
Mr Y Carrim (ANC; KZN) said the provincial legislature met and agreed to mandate the delegation from the province to support the Bill.

Limpopo
Ms M Mamaregane (ANC; Limpopo) said the provincial legislature conferred its delegation to vote in favour of the Bill.

Mpumalanga
The Chairperson said the provincial legislature conferred the delegation the mandate to vote in favour of the Bill.

Northern Cape
Mr W Aucamp (DA; NC) said the provincial legislature conferred the delegation the mandate to vote in favour of the Bill, taking into consideration its position on the equitable share formula. The province’s position was that the review of the formula should accommodate the complexities of predominantly rural provinces such as the Northern Cape. The review must be fast-tracked in view of the challenges bedevilling the provinces.  

North-West
Mr S du Toit (FF+; NW) said the provincial legislature votes in favour of the Bill. He put it to Members that this was a fictional exercise as the Division of Revenue Bill will be replaced once the new budget is tabled by the Minister.

Western Cape
Mr E Njandu (ANC; WC) said the provincial legislature conferred the delegation the mandate to not support the Bill.

The Chairperson put the final mandates up for adoption.

Mr Carrim moved.

Mr Nkiva seconded.

The final mandates were adopted.

Draft Committee Report on the Division of Revenue Bill

The Chairperson took the Committee through the draft Committee Report on the Division of Revenue Bill page by page. The report was sent to Members for perusal the previous day. 

Mr Aucamp said it was important for the Committee to add a recommendation that once the new Division of Revenue Bill is tabled following presentation of the revised budget, drought relief grants to provinces should form part of disaster interventions.  

The Chairperson agreed. The proposal could be added as a recommendation as it had been discussed in Committee prior.

Members agreed.

The Chairperson put the report up for adoption.

Mr Njandu moved for its adoption.

Mr Carrim seconded.

Mr Ryder said the Committee had moved through the report quite rapidly and Members had not had time to study it thoroughly. There were issues with the Bill and the report which the DA would need to make further consultations with stakeholders on. He reserved the DA’s position.

The Chairperson, in response, said Members were given an opportunity to peruse the report prior to the meeting as copies were sent via email the previous day. It was thus unfair for Mr Ryder to say consideration of the report was rushed.  

Mr Carrim agreed with the Chairperson. He could not understand why some Members felt consideration of the report was rushed. He could not find any fault in the Committee processes.

Mr du Toit reiterated this was a fictional exercise as the figures in the Bill will soon be adjusted. The FF+ reserved its position on the report.

Mr Moletsane abstained from the vote.

The Report was adopted with amendments.

The Chairperson appreciated the commitment and efforts from everyone involved in Committee processes. The Report will be presented to the House next week.

Adoption of minutes
The Chairperson put the minutes of the 20 May meeting up for adoption.

Mr Carrim moved.

Mr Ryder seconded.

The minutes were adopted without amendments.

The meeting adjourned.