Appropriation Bill & Second Adjustments Appropriation Bill: adoption

Meeting report

The Chairperson said the purpose of this meeting was to adopt the 2022/23 Budget as presented in the Committee Reports on the 2022 Appropriation Bill and Second Adjustments Appropriation (2021/22 financial year) Bill.

2022 Appropriation Bill: adoption & committee report
The motion of desirability for the Appropriation Bill [B7-2022] was read out.

The Committee adopted the motion of desirability on the Bill..

The EFF abstained and the DA voted against the motion.

The Chairperson presented the Committee Report on the 2022 Appropriation Bill for the Committee to consider and adopt.

Ms D Peters (ANC) noted paragraph 6.19 of the report: The Committee notes the submission by Mr Kalikopu who proposes that the Bill should cater for youth in Cape Town. In addition to the youth in Cape Town, the Committee is of the view that the Bill should adequately address the challenges faced by South African youth. Furthermore, the Committee is of the view that the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities should play a pivotal role in ensuring that the challenge faced by South African youth are adequately addressed, as suggested by Mr Kalikopu.

She requested an amendment to include "the Department of Social Development and Department of Employment and Labour" in 6.19. In addition, the Standing Committee should recommend to Parliament that it enable the ordinary public to able to participate in public hearings. The submission from Mr Kalikopu expressed the struggles of not having access to resources to come to Parliament.

The Committee Secretary said this amendment directed at the presiding officers of Parliament would be added to the Recommendations in paragraph 7.7.

The Committee adopted the Committee Report with amendments. The DA did not support the report and the EFF abstained. The Committee Report will be referred to the National Assembly.

Second Adjustments Appropriation (2021/22) Bill: adoption & committee report
The motion of desirability on the Second Adjustments Appropriation (2021/22 financial year) Bill [B8-2022] was read out.

The Committee adopted the motion of desirability on the Bill.

The EFF abstained and the DA voted against the Bill.

The Committee Report on the Second Adjustments Appropriation (2021/22 financial year) Bill [B8-2022] was considered and no amendments were made to it.

The Committee adopted it. The DA voted against the Committee Report while the EFF abstained.

Both Bills were declared duly adopted.

Budget Oversight international best practice: proposed study tour
Mr Musa Zamisa and Ms Noluyolo Magazi, Committee Researchers, presented research on the best country to visit to study budget oversight best practice.

Main objective of study tour is to:
- To explore countries that offer inspiration and opportunities for learning.
- To look at comparable cases with similar context and historical background.

Methods and criteria used to pinpoint a country included:
- Reviewed existing literature.
- Applied prior knowledge and experience.
- Excluded Canada, Kenya, Uganda, Sweden, and United States.
- Excluded most European countries such as. Germany because of different context.
- Excluded other African countries because they do not offer many lessons.

According to the researchers South Korea was the most preferred destination.
- South Korea emerges as the most appropriate choice for the Standing Committee.
- This is based on strength of budget oversight (capacity, experience, expertise, sophistication and legislative budget powers).
- Has the most advance, sophisticated and innovative budget system and process.

Discussion
Mr O Mathafa (ANC) was impressed with the work done by the research unit with good guiding points for the recommendation.

Ms Peters agreed. She did not fully understand why the size of the South Korean committee is so big in relation to other committees. How big is its Parliament?

Mr E Marais (DA) supported the report by the research unit.

Mr Z Mlenzana (ANC) was intrigued by the comparison between Singapore and South Korea. Given the time and the financial muscle the Committee has, it would be good to touch base with both countries with first priority being South Korea.

The Chairperson thanked the researchers and commented that South Africa is still a young democracy and the Committee could learn a lot from these countries. Both could be visited.

Researchers' response
The Singapore parliament is relatively small with 90 permanent members. Thus they have a shorter timeframe for passing the budget. An interesting feature of its budget process is once the Finance Minister tables the budget, parliament adjourns for a week and the time allocated for the budget is no more than two days.

South Korea is a fascinating case as there are many layers that would make the study tour interesting. The South African parliament is bigger compared to South Korea because it does not have two houses. South Africa has a select committee and standing committee on appropriations. Given the scope, its appropriations committee is supposed to be a mega committee. Both countries would be good for oversight.

On the logistics for the study tour, the Committee Secretary said that the Committee would have to draw up a programme and submit an application to the House Chairperson and Speaker due to the amount of money involved.

The Committee adopted the 25, 27, 31 May minutes plus for both meetings on 1 June 2022.

The meeting was adjourned.