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The National Assembly (NA), at its plenary sitting today, passed the Adjustments Appropriation Bill as presented by the Standing Committee on Appropriations.

The passing of the Bill followed consideration of the report on the Bill from the Committee, published in the Announcements, Tabling and Committee Meetings parliamentary paper of 29 November. To read the Committee report on the Bill click on this link and start reading on page 11.

The Minister of Finance tabled the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on 25 October 2017 outlining the budget priorities of the government for the medium term estimates. The 2017 MTBPS was tabled in Parliament with the Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B25 - 2017] and the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill [B24 - 2017].

Section 12 (15) of the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act, No 9 of 2009 (Money Bills Act) provides that in the event of a revised fiscal framework, an Adjustments Appropriation Bill must be referred to the Committee on Appropriations in the National Assembly only after the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill has been passed by Parliament. Therefore, the 2017 Adjustments Appropriation Bill was referred to the Committee on 22 November for consideration and report following passing of the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill.

The Committee facilitated a process of public participation to get general public comments on the Bill by advertising on national and community newspapers.

However, no submissions were received on the Adjustments Appropriations Bill. Following a briefing on the entirety of the Bill and its adjustments, by National Treasury, the Committee invited the Departments of Home Affairs, Communications, and Telecommunications and Postal Services to make oral presentations.

The Committee also invited stakeholders like the Financial and Fiscal Commission, a State Owned Enterprise strategic consultant and an aviation sector economist to discuss the recapitalisation and debt relief provided to the South African Airways and the South African Post Office as contained in the Bill.

Also considered during the sitting are the Bill’s Votes and Schedule.
 

Issued by Parliament of South Africa