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Dictionary definition of legislation.
The National Assembly has passed the Special Appropriation Bill. The bill allocates additional money to the Department of Health.
Additional funding was requested by the Department after the United States withdrew its PEPFAR funding to South Africa and other countries last year.
Democratic Alliance MP Janho Engelbrecht says political differences should be put aside for the sake of the challenges within the health sector.
“As part of the solution, when we engage with international partners, our focus must remain on the interests of South Africans. We should pursue relationships on mutual respects and shared benefits and ensure that the geo-political dynamics do not compromise our domestic authorities. Also important is to diversify and building local partnerships. These actions are essential to long term stability and self-reliance.”
African National Congress MP Motlane Monakedi says withdrawal of PEPFAR funding imposed suffering.
“When Trump’s administration withdrew PEPFAR funding without regard for this South African reality, it did not engage in diplomacy, rather it imposed suffering. The abrupt withdrawal of PEPFAR funding was not an administrative oversight but a deliberate political decision taken by the Trump administration and amplified by the anti-revolutionary forces within our own country, especially AfriForum.”
Patriotic Alliance (PA) MP Marlon Daniels says the party stands in support with the adoption of the bill.
“The PA stands in support of this bill. We do so not out of blind loyalty to the GNU but out of our unwavering loyalty to the citizens we all sworn to serve. The government has presented us with a fundamental choice. Do we now ring our hands at the setback or do we act to resolve to protect our people? Honourable members, let us be clear, to oppose this appropriation is to sanction a reduction in healthcare services.’
