Parly has no savings, a slashed budget – and needs more cash to implement state capture recommendations
All savings were depleted to keep the institution afloat and to meet public participation obligations in the legislative process.
A view of Parliament. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Parliament is warning that its ever-declining budget could impact on its lawmaking abilities, and its oversight of the public purse.
It said it depleted all its savings to keep the institution afloat and to meet its public participation obligations in the legislative process.
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Secretary to Parliament Xolile George told Parliament’s oversight committee on Friday the legislature could not implement the recommendations of the State Capture Commission of Inquiry without more money.
In this financial year, Parliament will have to make do with R214 million less.
George said this cut would have a knock-on effect of almost R800 million being slashed in the coming three years.
He said Parliament found itself in a precarious situation.
“It leaves us with no option other than raiding various votes under each of the divisions, to be able to complement areas where public participation required more money, oversight required more money, international engagements required more money.
He added that Parliament was increasingly facing legal challenges to the bills it passed, another indication that it needed to bolster its research and policy capacity, rather than scale back.