Finance minister Enoch Godongwana is expected to deliver the 2025 budget speech weeks after it was postponed due to differences among partners in the government of national unity (GNU).
The cabinet postponed the tabling of the budget on February 19 after the DA sharply objected to plans by Godongwana to hike VAT by two percentage points.
Parliament is set for a busy week. On Tuesday, the portfolio committee on mineral & petroleum resources is set to be briefed by the mineral & petroleum resources department on the state of the SA mining industry, among other matters.
Also on Tuesday, a day before the budget is tabled, President Cyril Ramaphosa will appear before the National Assembly and is likely to field questions from MPs on tensions in the GNU.
The basic education committee is set to engage with the department of basic education and the Gauteng and Western Cape counterparts on issues pertaining to learner admissions, learner migration trend gaps and backlogs in learner placements.
The home affairs committee is due to deliberate on the political party funding upper limits and their disclosure thresholds, independent candidates and independent representatives.
The standing committee on public accounts head, Songezo Zibi, will be briefed by the National Treasury on various matters relating to procurement, state-owned enterprises and cost management.
Also taking place on Tuesday, the sport, arts & culture portfolio committee will be briefed by the sport, arts & culture department on the stability and governance at all entities, including board appointments and governance. It will also be updated on all criminal cases and forensic investigations in the entities and federations.
On Wednesday, the National Council of Provinces select committee on economic development and trade will be briefed by the SABC on the entity’s financial sustainability, operational challenges and problems encountered in the implementation of its turnaround strategy.
On Friday, the joint standing committee on defence in the National Assembly will have an introductory briefing by the Reserve Force Council on the status of the SA National Defence Force’s reserve force, its utilisation and challenges including plans for rejuvenation.
The House is also expected to be briefed by metropolitan municipalities on the performance of the urban settlements development grant, among other issues.
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