Parliament looks to tighten rules on process to pass future budgets
Secretary to Parliament, Masibulele Xaso, said that while it was not imperative that new rules were adopted for the current budget cycle, it would give greater clarity in future on the timelines that should be followed.
The National Assembly sat for the tabling of the national budget in Parliament on 19 February 2025. The Budget Speech was postponed at the eleventh hour. Picture: Parliament
CAPE TOWN - As the approval of the country’s budgeting framework hangs by a thread, Parliament is looking to tighten its rules on the process.
Never before has the legislature dealt with amending a budget, as the African National Congress (ANC) had always used its majority to rubber-stamp what was presented by the finance minister.
For the first time on Tuesday, the ANC had to call on an unlikely ally, ActionSA, to get its fiscal framework and revenue proposals to pass the committee stage.
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And while that meeting was running into overtime, a rules subcommittee was simultaneously considering introducing more explicit guidelines for future budgets.
The legislature currently finds itself in the unprecedented position of trying to pass a budget with parties both in and out of the Government of National Unity (GNU) at odds over its contents and the process followed in committee on Tuesday to approve the fiscal framework for presentation to the National Assembly.
Secretary to Parliament, Masibulele Xaso, said that while it was not imperative that new rules were adopted for the current budget cycle, it would give greater clarity in future on the timelines that should be followed.
Parliament has never before had to grapple with making any substantive amendments to the budget.
"Basically, what we are doing here is to create a mechanism for Parliament to amend money bills, if that’s what they want to do."
Additional guidelines would also ensure enough time was given for public consultation and for the appropriations committee to mediate in the event of a dispute over conflicting amendments.
Parliament’s procedural advisor, Perran Hahndiek, however, said that existing rules were enough to ensure the current budget was passed.
"The issue is, are those rules sufficient to ensure that there is predictability, and that all structures in Parliament, the ministers and so on, understand clearly, what’s expected of them?"
Political parties have asked for more time to present the proposals to their caucuses, before referring the amendments to the rules committee for approval.