ANC and DA support the approval of funds allocated to departments

The two largest parties in the Government of National Unity – the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) – have supported the approval of funds for various government departments and entities.

DA MP Edwin Baptie and ANC MP Zweli Mkhize both endorse their support for the Home Affairs budget.

“But we are not just open for anybody. Under the leadership of Minister Shriber, we have doubled the number of undocumented migrants during the festive season. The delivers. We support this budget,” says Baptie.

“The portfolio committee will be doing an aggressive joint oversight visit with SCOPA, the Standing Committee on Auditor General, starting with the Free State tomorrow. We have to make sure that there is accountability, consequence management, as well as turnaround of these municipalities. The ANC supports this budget on Traditional Affairs. We see this budget as a huge step towards supporting traditional leadership,” says Mkhize.

MPs vote on Appropriation Bill:

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the NCC and the UAT are some of the political parties outside the GNU that have rejected the approval of budget allocations for various government departments.

This is as the National Assembly is considering votes for the Appropriation Bill. The Bill allocates funds to various departments and entities.

EFF MP Omphile Maotwe objects to the National Treasury’s allocation of funds.

“We argued that the manner in which the National Treasury operates today is not only deliberately sabotaging the SANDF but also the entire security and justice system. And it is a national security risk. The statement by the National Treasury in response to the admiral is nothing but historical, which fails to appreciate the long history of the budget cuts, and also does not appreciate the state of disarray that the military is in today. We have a military that is on the verge of collapse,” says Maotwe.

Meanwhile, 263 members of Parliament voted in support of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate during the Appropriation Bill debate in the National Assembly.

The support for IPID reflects its crucial role in overseeing police misconduct and promoting accountability within the Police Service.

94 MPs from ActionSA, the ATM, the EFF, and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party voted against the bill.

 Video: Appropriation Bill | MKP, EFF won’t support Bill