Appropriation Bill & Special Appropriation Bill: Committee Reports

Standing Committee on Appropriations

01 June 2021
Chairperson: Mr S Buthelezi (ANC)
Share this page:

Meeting Summary

Video: Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs, 01 June 2021

Tabled Committee Reports

This was the Committee's final meeting for the term, during which it went through the amendments and adoption of its reports on the Appropriation and Special Appropriations Bills. It also approved its draft third term programme, and the minutes of a recent Committee meeting.

An issue that was raised concerned whether or not the Committee could interact and engage with municipalities and provinces with regard to the expenditure of their funds. It was agreed that the Committee would factor in and extend an invitation to the Northern Cape next quarter to discuss their budget expenditure and the way in which they utilised their funds.

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed the Committee, and took Members through the agenda:

  • Motion of desirability – Appropriation Bill [B4-2021];
  • Consideration and adoption of Appropriation Bill [B4A-2021];
  • Consideration and adoption of Committee’s draft report on the 2021 Appropriation Bill;
  • Adoption of draft minutes; and
  • Draft Committee programme for term three of 2021

Motion of Desirability – Appropriation Bill [B4-2021]

The Chairperson took the Members through the report, and asked the Committee for a mover for the report.

Mr X Qayiso (ANC) moved the adoption, and Ms D Peters (ANC) seconded, with amendments. 

The Chairperson confirmed that the report had been duly adopted.

Consideration and Adoption of Appropriation Bill [B4A-2021]

The Chairperson took the Members through the report

Mr Z Mlenzana (ANC) asked for clarity as to whether the Bill should read “Special Appropriation Bill.”

Mr Darrin Arends, Committee Secretary, said that it was not a special Appropriation, and that the title was correct.

The Chairperson asked for a mover for the proposed amendment.

Ms Peters moved the adoption of the report, and Mr Z Mlenzana (ANC) seconded.

The Chairperson confirmed the adoption of the report.

Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Appropriation Bill [B4– 2021] (National Assembly – Section 77)

The Chairperson took Members through the report.

Mr Qayiso asked to review the amendment on fisheries in the report.

The Chairperson asked if Mr Qayiso if he was satisfied.

Mr Qayiso responded that he was.

The Chairperson asked for a mover for the adoption of the report.

Mr Qayiso moved the adoption, and Mr O Mathafa (ANC) seconded.
 
The Chairperson confirmed that the report had been duly adopted


Motion of Desirability - Special Appropriation Bill [B5-2021]

The Chairperson took Members through the report.

The Chairperson altered the word “and” to “an.”

Ms Peters asked whether Mr Arends could change the wording under "platform," from “MST” to “Virtual Meeting Platform.”

The Chairperson agreed that it should be changed to “Virtual Meeting Platform.”

The Chairperson asked for a mover to support the report.

Mr Mlenzana moved the adoption of the report, and Ms Peters seconded.


Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Special Appropriation Bill [B5 – 2021] (National Assembly – Section 77)

The Chairperson took Members through the report.

Mr Qayiso moved the adoption of the report, and Ms M Dikgale (ANC) seconded.

The Chairperson confirmed the adoption of the report.


Adoption of draft minutes dated 25 May 2021

The Chairperson took Members through the minutes

Mr Qayiso moved the adoption of the minutes, and Ms Peters seconded.

The Chairperson said that the minutes had been duly adopted as a true reflection of the events that occurred on 25 May.


Draft Committee programme for term three of 2021

The Chairperson took Members through the programme.

He said that the draft had factored in the activities of the National Assembly. The specific activities were not specified on the Committees agenda. The agenda was specifically for the Committee. The first week was an oversight week from 17 to 20 August.

He asked Mr Arends for clarity on the agenda for 1 September.

Mr Arends removed "adoption of the report" from the agenda for 1 September.

Ms Peters asked whether the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) or the Committee should deal with the particular issue of budgets for salaries. An example was used of the Northern Cape stating that for argument's sake, if they received a budget of R19 billion, R14 billion went towards salaries. She asked who should deal with issues like this. Would the Committee have to call on the Northern Cape to report to the Committee on budget expenditure?

The Chairperson asked Members for input.

Mr Mlenzana responded by saying that the Committee should prove that they did not just deliver money, and should start monitoring the expenditure. It was their duty to ensure that the money that had been appropriated was being used accordingly. He suggested that the Committee took the responsibility on itself to question the expenditure of provinces or departments.

Mr Sifiso Magagula, Committee Content Advisor, said that the Committee passed the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriations Bill, therefore the money being spent was the responsibility of the Committee to communicate with the receivers of these funds. The Committee was responsible to ensure it was correctly spent.

The Chairperson asked Ms Peters what her proposal was.

Ms Peters proposed that in the next quarter, the Committee should invite the Northern Cape to present their budget expenditure and how they had used their funds. The Committee should question their focus areas. It was emphasised that Provinces should not have the funds to pay salaries, but not the funds to provide services.

The Chairperson agreed, and asked Mr Arends to factor in this issue in the next quarter. The Committee should invite the Northern Cape to come and engage.

Mr Mlenzana said that Mr Arends had been referring to the Committee's return after the constituency period.  From 17 to 20 August would be when the Committee conducted its oversight in Gauteng. Mr Arends would then be presenting the oversight report to the Committee and the adoption of the report on 1 September.

The Chairperson realised what the issue was. Mr Arends was asked to find an alternative day for the Committee to adopt the report. It was suggested that on 1 September, the Committee extend an invitation to the provincial government of the Northern Cape to come and engage with it.

Mr Arends said that the Committee did not take long to adopt reports, and made it clear that it was not a good idea to leave the report for the following term.

The Chairperson reiterated to the Committee that the term would be very short. The constituency period would be between the 6 September and 4 October.

The Committee was asked for a mover for the adoption of the report as a guideline to the following quarter.

Mr Mathafa moved the adoption of the report, and Mr Qayiso seconded.

The Chairperson said that Mr Arends would prepare a letter to the Northern Cape's Premier, inviting them to come and engage with the Committee. Ms Peters was asked if she agreed.

Ms Peters agreed.

The Chairperson suggested that the Committee should look more at interacting with municipalities in the next quarter.

The Chairperson asked Mr Arends if he had any announcements.

Mr Arends answered that he had none, and that this was the final meeting for the term.

The meeting was adjourned
 

Documents

No related documents

Download as PDF

You can download this page as a PDF using your browser's print functionality. Click on the "Print" button below and select the "PDF" option under destinations/printers.

See detailed instructions for your browser here.

Share this page: