Chairperson, as we heard, section 77(3) of our Constitution requires the establishment of a procedure to enable Parliament to amend money Bills that have been introduced by the Minister of Finance. Money Bills relate to the raising of revenue and the appropriation thereof between spending programmes, of which the most important Bills are the annual Division of Revenue and Appropriation Bills.
It is also implied by the Constitution that there must be a clear separation of authority, powers, accountability and oversight between government and Parliament.
Belangrike aspekte wat in die proses vasgevang is binne die wetsontwerp, sluit in dat komitees in beide die Nasionale Vergadering en die Nasionale Raad van Provinsies ingestel sal word vir beide inkomstebestuur en die verdeling van fondse. Hierdie komitees sal uiteraard veelparty komitees wees. Die verantwoordelikheid vir die proses sal in die uitvoerende gesag van die Parlement gesetel wees, en 'n begrotingskantoor moet ingestel word, om die komitees van diens te wees. Die Parlement sal sy eie begroting saamstel met fondse wat van die Nasionale Tesourie verkry word. Hoewel ongespandeerde fondse nie aan die Tesourie terug gestuur word nie, moet die finansile resultate van die Parlement aan die Nasionale Tesourie gerapporteer word vir konsolidasie. Hoewel rapportering aan die Nasionale Tesourie nie plaasvind nie, is die oorsigverantwoordelikheid in die Parlement en sy uitvoerende gesag gesetel. Belangrik, is die verantwoordelikheid van die Parlement om te verseker dat begrote fondse in ooreenstemming met die begrotings en die strategiese en meetbare doelwitte bestee word. Hierdie oorsigrol is nie noodwendig gesetel in die Minister van Finansies, Nasionale Tesourie of die Ouditeur-generaal nie. Dit is gesetel in die Parlement, die genoemde finansile komitees, en veral die onderskeie portefeuljekomitees wat moet toesien dat effektiewe en verantwoordbare bestuur verseker word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Important aspects that are captured in the process within the Bill, includes that committees will be established in both the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces for the management of revenue as well as the division of funds. These committees will of course be multiparty committees. The responsibility for the process will be vested in the executive of Parliament, and a budget office should be established to be of service to the committees. Parliament will draw up its own budget from funds that are acquired from National Treasury. Although funds that were not spent are not returned to the Treasury the financial results of Parliament must be reported to National Treasury for consolidation. Although reporting to National Treasury does not take place, the oversight responsibility is vested in Parliament and its executive authority. Of great significance is the responsibility that Parliament has to ensure that funds budgeted for is spent according to the budgets and strategic and measurable goals. This oversight role is not necessarily vested in the Minister of Finance, National Treasury or the Auditor-General. It is vested in Parliament, the above-mentioned financial committees, and especially the different portfolio committees that must ensure effective and responsible management.]
A very important and significant responsibility is the determination of the accepted fiscal framework, which will guide the responsibilities and tasks of the respective committees. In this process, a strong and well-understood relationship must be established between the respective committees, the Minister of Finance and National Treasury. The fiscal framework must give effect to the national executive's macroeconomic policy and include estimates of revenue, expenditure, borrowing, interest and debt servicing charges, contingency reserve, etc.
This Bill sets out the procedure to deal with any proposed revenue and appropriation Bills which will most certainly require from every effected party, specifically the respective portfolio committees, to align their tasks and responsibilities properly to assure that the consequences of this Bill will not burden or delay the implementation of money Bills introduced by the Minister.
Voorsitter, hierdie konsepwetgewing is nodig om die nodige oorsig en aanspreeklikheid aan die Parlement te gee. Hierdie verrerkende magte en implikasies kan misbruik word, wat die verantwoordelikheid en aanspreeklikheid op elke verkose lid van die Parlement net soveel groter maak. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Chairperson, this draft legislation is necessary to give the required oversight and accountability to Parliament. These far-reaching powers and implications can be abused, which make the responsibility and accountability that rest on every elected Member of Parliament that much bigger.]
You can't blame the civil servants in the various departments anymore. The buck stops with you the elected representatives of the people of South Africa. The DA supports the adoption of this Bill. I thank you. [Applause.]