Maimane appeals to GNU to iron out its differences to avoid another budget deadlock
Maimane, the Build One South Africa leader, said the political differences within the GNU can’t once again hold the country to ransom to finalise a budget.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane at the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC)’s national Results Operations Centre (ROC) on 1 June 2024. Picture: Jacques Nelles/Eyewitness News
CAPE TOWN - Chairperson of parliament’s standing committee on appropriations Mmusi Maimane is appealing to the Government of National Unity (GNU) to iron out their differences to avoid another budget deadlock at the end of this month.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it wouldn't support the budget votes of at least three departments presided over by compromised ministers, while ActionSA said it wouldn't be used to shore up the vote on the appropriation bill.
Maimane, the Build One South Africa leader, said the political differences within the GNU can’t once again hold the country to ransom to finalise a budget.
Parliament’s appropriations committee said it can only grapple with money matters related to the budgets of various departments.
Chairperson Mmusi Maimane said the current impasse between the ANC and DA over compromised ministers is not one the committee can settle and if the GNU can’t sort out its differences, then he would argue there’s no coalition.
"It cannot put us into these legal challenges of permanently not having a budget, because the consequences thereof are quite significant," he said.
Meanwhile, ActionSA’s parliamentary leader Athol Trollip had this warning for the GNU during Thursday’s debate on the electricity and energy portfolio.
"If the GNU cannot pass this budget, don’t expect the opposition to pass it for you."
The DA’s chief whip George Michalakis, said the ball was firmly in the President’s court to meet its demands, saying there was still time for the impasse to be resolved before the 23rd of July vote.