Division of Revenue Bill; Second Adjustments Appropriation (2023/24 FY) Bill & GFECRA A/B: consideration

Meeting report

Opening comments:

The Chairperson greeted everyone and outlined the agenda for the meeting.

He informed Members that this meeting was the end of a process the Minister of Finance started when he presented the 2024 budget. Three Bills were presented to the Committee – the Division of Revenue Bill, the Second Adjustments Appropriation Bill and the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account Defrayal Amendment Bill. Today, the Committee would consider its reports on these Bills. Going forward, once the reports were adopted, they would be referred to the National Assembly for debate. Once the Bills were passed, they would be referred to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). The Committee had held joint meetings with other committees to consider these bills. The NCOP would then debate on the Bills and vote on them. Thereafter, the Bills would be submitted to the President. The Chairperson said he wanted to outline this process for the benefit of the public.

He noted the absentees with apology.

Motion of Desirability- Division of Revenue Bill [B4-2024]

The Committee adopted the motion of desirability, deeming the Bill desirable. The DA reserved its position. 

Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Division of Revenue Bill [B4–2024] (National Assembly – Section 76)

The Committee went through the report page by page. The Chairperson noted the draft report was sent to Members and some inputs were received which were included in the document.

The Chairperson said the report emphasised the value for money and the question of consequence management, wasteful and fruitless expenditure.

The report was adopted, noting the DA’s reservation of its position.

See full report here https://pmg.org.za/tabled-committee-report/5719/

Motion of Desirability – 2024 Second Adjustments Appropriation (2023/24 Financial Year) Bill [B6-2024]

The Committee adopted the motion of desirability, deeming the Bill desirable. The DA reserved its position.

Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Second Adjustments Appropriation (2023/24 Financial Year) Bill [B6 – 2024] (National Assembly – Section 77)

The Committee went through the report page by page.

The report was adopted, noting the DA’s reservation of its position.

See full report here https://pmg.org.za/tabled-committee-report/5720/

Motion of Desirability – Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account Defrayal Amendment Bill [B7-2024]

The Committee adopted the motion of desirability, deeming the Bill desirable. The DA reserved its position.

Report of the Standing Committee on Appropriations on the Gold and Foreign Exchange Contingency Reserve Account Defrayal Amendment Bill [B7 – 2024] (National Assembly – Section 77)

The Committee went through the report page by page.

The report was adopted, noting the DA’s rejection of the Bill. 

See full report here https://pmg.org.za/tabled-committee-report/5721/

The Chairperson reminded Members that all the reports would be referred to the National Assembly after the meeting.

Committee minutes

The minutes of 12 March 2024, and of 13 March 2024 were adopted.

Closing comments:

The Chairperson called on the Secretariat to make any announcements.

The Secretariat noted the Committee’s last meeting would be held the following week Wednesday, where the Committee would deal with its legacy report.

The Chairperson asked when they would receive the draft legacy report.

The Secretariat responded that it was distributed a long time ago, but they have not yet received input from the Members.

The Chairperson asked that the draft legacy report be re-sent to the Committee after the meeting, as Members had been very busy with the budget. They had more time now, and he asked the Members to please submit their inputs to the Secretariat.

The Chairperson was grateful for the Members' participation on the budget bills. He thanked members of the public for their time and efforts with the Bills. In the reports, there was mention of issues raised by the members of the public. The Committee agreed with members of the public on most items. He appreciated the interaction with the public and with the media, which assisted with reporting the meetings. It was important to pass the Division of Revenue Bill now so that the provinces could have access to the monies and continue with their responsibilities. He said the seventh incoming Parliament would process the 2024 Appropriation Bill.

The meeting was adjourned.