Bill to smooth budget process gets nod

The National Assembly has accepted the Appropriation Bill on the first reading, moving a step closer toward concluding a tumultuous budget process – although it is not yet fully resolved.

- Molefe Seeletsa

The Bill, which allocates funding to national government departments and outlines how it will be divided for the financial year, is the final major legislative step before the R1.2 trillion national budget can be finalised.

It goes through three main stages in the National Assembly.

In the first reading, MPs debate whether they agree with its overall principles.