R1 billon-plus of wasteful expenditure in the Adjustments Appropriation Bill

Dear Editor

Today, following a third “three-line-whip” the ANC finally managed to form a quorum and pass the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill [B15-2016] in the National Assembly.

This time the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill passed with 228 “Yes” votes, 86 “No” votes and 0 “Abstentions”, and will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces.

The failure to pass the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill, despite two votes, two “three-line-whips”, and a barrage of text messages begging members to vote, is unprecedented in Parliament.

The fact that a number of ANC members, will now be hauled before the ANC’s Caucus Disciplinary Committee, is likely to intensify the “civil war” within the ruling party in Parliament.

However, we will continue to pile on the pressure by strongly opposing the Adjustments Appropriations Bill [B16-2016], which is dripping in more than a billon rands worth of fat, including:

a new ministerial vehicle for the Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, at the cost of approximately R1.72 million;
two new ministerial vehicles for the Minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, at the cost of approximately R3.0 million;
a new ministerial vehicle for the Deputy-Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Buti Manamela, at the cost of approximately R1.97 million; and several new ministerial vehicles for the Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Public Service and Administration at the cost of approximately R3.38 million.

So, if the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, Jackson Mthembu, thinks the “budget war” is over, he is sorely mistaken, and he will have to raise his game during the budget process in Parliament.

Regards

David Maynier
DA Shadow Minister of Finance