Parliament is facing increasing calls to adjust the national budget to provide greater support for vulnerable sectors, particularly Basic Education, which has been severely impacted by budget cuts.
The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Appropriations is currently holding public hearings on the 2025 Division of Revenue Bill.
This bill determines how revenue collected at the national level is distributed among national, provincial, and local governments. The hearings follow a similar process to the fiscal framework and the recent value-added tax (VAT) increase adopted by the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Political parties and organisations have actively engaged in the discussions, with many reiterating the need for increased funding.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), represented by Mathew Cuthbert, reaffirmed its opposition to both the budget and the VAT hike. Cuthbert also proposed measures to improve spending efficiency, such as reducing unnecessary expenses on stationery and streamlining certain government departments.
According to his estimates, these efficiency improvements could free up approximately R27.7 billion.
Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has called for the Division of Revenue Bill to address the impact of years of budget cuts on essential public services.
COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks emphasised the need to reverse spending reductions that have significantly weakened the services relied upon by workers, businesses, and society as a whole.
The hearings will continue before the National Treasury provides a formal response to the submissions.
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