Budget talks – government confident of breakthrough

THE DEPARTMENT of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation is optimistic that parties within the Government of National Unity (GNU) will address and resolve the Budget-related issues, ensuring that it is passed.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

This assertion was made by Deputy Minister Seiso Mohai when he was responding to questions from Build One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane regarding steps that will be taken to resolve internal government disputes and ensure the integrity of the Budget process and economic stability.

Mohai said the GNU’s Statement of Intent of Government established a dispute resolution mechanism to deal with disputes in the coalition government.

“A clearing house has been established to support the process and it is chaired by the deputy president as a leader of Government Business. Disagreements on the national Budget were referred to this process to engage- ment and ultimately the Cabinet agreed on the way forward towards the tabling of the national Budget,” Mohai said.

He also said future disagreements will continue to be dealt with through the agreed mechanisms.