Madam Deputy Speaker, the South African Parliament is still like a department and has to follow Public Finance Management Act timeframes, which have resulted in its budget having a deficit of R143,1 million. Of its initial request of R1,627 billion, only R1,223 billion was allocated.
Owing to strict budgetary constraints, the main objective of Parliament to represent the people and provinces of South Africa and ensure government by the people under the Constitution cannot be fully realised.
The UCDP believes that Parliament has to be involved in the budget from an early stage, so as to get the slice that benefits the constitutional mandate.
Political parties would be more productive if they were provided with a researcher per political party - who will serve the interests of such a party - instead of all parties using a common pool of researchers. The amount of R2 400 per party per annum for parties to employ their own researchers is too small. The vacant posts that have been frozen have to be filled. Parliament has to employ an executive secretary instead of using an Acting Secretary.
The UCDP maintains that Treasury should address Parliament's deficit of R143 million in order for there to be an improvement in service delivery. During this fourth Parliament, as rules get reviewed, could the issue of time allocation to smaller parties be reviewed? It is ridiculous to expect a member to debate meaningfully in one minute. The UCDP supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]