National Assembly passes 2021 Appropriation Bill after Eskom suspends load shedding for sitting
The National Assembly has adopted the Special Appropriation Bill and Appropriation Bill after Eskom suspended load shedding on Friday to allow for Parliamentarians to all have access to the sitting to pass the bills.
The Appropriation Bill, which allocates money from the National Revenue Fund to provide for requirements of the state for the 2021/22 financial year, was adopted on Friday afternoon.
The 2021/22 national budget of R1.3 trillion focuses on promoting economic recovery and returning public finances to a sustainable path.
It also focuses on narrowing the budget deficit whilst stabilising the debt-to-gross domestic product ratio.
Some of the key proposed adjustments to government spending include an additional R11 billion for job creation.
The Special Appropriation Bill is intended to cushion the financial shock of the Covid-19 crisis.
Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says the Bill proposes an additional R1.25 billion to the Department of Health for the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as R2.83 billion to the Department of Social Development to fund the extension of the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant.
“In addition, during the 2020 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, Parliament approved a total of R10.5 billion through the Second Adjustments Appropriation Bill (B25 – 2020) to allow South African Airways (SAA) to implement its business rescue plan.
“The Finance Minister may, on request, approve any portion of the funds allocated to SAA or its subsidiary to use in another subsidiary of SAA. The Bill, proposes the reallocation of R2.7 billion in 2021/22 appropriated funds from SAA to fund the financial assets of its subsidiaries,” Mothapo adds in the statement.
The Appropriation Bill will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for consideration.
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