Africa-Press – South-Africa. Parliamentarians from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) said they felt sidelined and treated like stepchildren during deliberations on the fiscal framework and revenue proposals, which underpin the 2025 budget.
MPs of the select committee have complained of being silenced by the chairperson of the National Assembly’s finance standing committee, Joe Maswanganyi, when the two committees met on Wednesday to finalise their report on the budget.
The report, which was subsequently adopted by both committees, is set to be put to the vote by each of the respective houses next Wednesday.
Wednesday’s joint meeting was at pains to ensure the process was above board, after the last occasion led to a legal challenge that was set aside by the high court.
But in a separate meeting afterwards, NCOP MPs objected that their inputs had been ignored during the joint sitting.
Only members from the National Assembly’s standing committee were given the opportunity to raise issues on the report.
NCOP House chairperson, Dennis Ryder, said were it not for the meeting’s favourable outcome, he would have challenged the process.
“We were silenced today. Are we merely going to be expected to rubberstamp the decision?”
The African National Congress (ANC)’s Cecilia Nxumalo said the select committee members had been treated like stepchildren, while the party’s Bheki Hadebe also felt sidelined.
“I cannot agree more with Honourable Ryder. What happened this morning was really unfair. What was the use of us sitting for three hours without making an input?”
Chairperson of the select committee, Sanny Ndhlovu, has pledged to raise the concerns with her National Assembly counterpart.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
