Departmental budget votes are scheduled to dominate the next few weeks of parliamentary activity following the official opening of Parliament by President Thabo Mbeki — and the delivery of the State of the Nation address — on Friday.
According to the joint programme committee of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces, there will be a debate on the president’s State of the Nation address for two days — on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon — next week. Mbeki will reply to the debate on Thursday May 27.
The Assembly will divide up into two extended public committees, establishing a pattern for the rest of the first term of the 2004 session, on Thursday June 3 to debate the Budget vote of the Department of Social Development of minister Zola Skweyiya and the Department of Foreign Affairs vote of minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
Budget votes involve not only the fiscal allocations to the departments of the government but also a debate on policy issues and strategies. This provides an opportunity for the opposition a chance to examine government performance in each portfolio.
The various committees of the National Assembly, which meet in the mornings, are scheduled to begin Budget hearings from Friday May 28, with the finance portfolio committee scheduled to discuss the National Treasury Budget vote that day.
On Tuesday June 1, the finance portfolio committee will work through the Budget vote of the South African Revenue Service followed by the Budget vote of Statistics South Africa on Wednesday June 2.
On Tuesday June 8 the National Assembly will again divide up into two extended public committees to debate the Budget vote of defence, falling under Mosiuoa Lekota, and science and technology, falling under Mosibudi Mangena, in the morning, followed by the Budget votes of agriculture and land affairs as well as the intelligence Budget vote in the afternoon. These fall under ministers Thoko Didiza and Ronnie Kasrils respectively. Mangena and Kasrils are new to their portfolios.
The Budget vote of Parliament is scheduled for debate on Wednesday June 9, while the Budget votes of the Department of Public Works, falling under minister Stella Sigcau, and the Department of Housing, falling under minister Lindiwe Sisulu, newly appointed to the portfolio, take place on Thursday afternoon, June 10.
The Budget votes of the National Treasury — falling under Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel — will be held on Friday morning of June 11 in an extended public committee at the same time as the Budget vote on home affairs, falling under Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. She is new to her portfolio.
Budget votes continue from Monday June 14. In the afternoon there will be extended public committees considering the trade and industry and public enterprises votes falling under ministers Mandisi Mpahlwa and Alec Erwin respectively. These will be followed on Tuesday June 15 with the correctional services and sport and recreation Budget votes of Ngconde Balfour and Makenkisi Stofile respectively. Balfour and Stofile are new to their portfolios.
Parliament breaks for Youth Day on June 16 but the Assembly returns for four extended public committees the following afternoon — on the health, water affairs and forestry, transport and arts and culture votes — falling under ministers Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Buyelwa Sonjica, Jeff Radebe and Pallo Jordan respectively. Sonjica, Radebe and Jordan are all new to these portfolios.
The Budget votes continue on Friday June 18 with education and the government communication service votes — falling under minister Naledi Pandor and Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad respectively. Pandor is new to the portfolio.
On Monday June 21 there will be extended public committees of provincial and local government, environmental affairs and tourism, communications, public service and administration and the public service commission. These fall under ministers Sydney Mufamadi, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri and Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi respectively. Van Schalkwyk, the New National Party leader, is new to the portfolio.
On Wednesday June 23, the Budget vote in the presidency — which will involve a reply to debate by Mbeki — will be held.
During June the National Council of Provinces, the second chamber of Parliament, will hold policy debates on the various Budget votes. MPs go on leave from Thursday July 1 and return after a “constituency period” on Monday August 2. — I-Net Bridge