ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli on Thursday said there was no substitute for political work if the impasse over the 2025/26 Budget was to be avoided.

Speaking during the meeting of the National Assembly Committee, Ntuli said the budget was not a small matter.

“There is no substitute in terms of political work that has to be done. I understand that work has begun, but it has to be intensified. When we are at crossroads like we find ourselves in now, we have to plan for various scenarios,” he said.

Ntuli made the comments after UDM parliamentary leader Nqabayomzi Kwankwa and National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza called for political engagement amid fears that the Appropriation Bill, which forms part of the Budget, may not be passed next week.

This happens as the parliamentary rules provide that budget votes for each department should be passed along with the Appropriation Bill, among other things.

The DA has threatened not to support the departmental budgets led by those ministers it deems are compromised and should be axed from the Cabinet.

Kwankwa said it could not be that political management of the situation was left until next Wednesday when the Appropriation Bill was tabled.

“Is political management not supposed to take place beforehand?” he asked.

“I want to appeal that the political footwork should start now, and we can’t exist to provide for things rules are not made for,” Kwankwa added.

Didiza said she was sure that where there were issues of a political nature, different political parties will have to engage.

“I hope parties go through the votes to understand their differences and not burden Parliament on matters that can be dealt bilaterally by parties,” Didiza said.

Earlier, Ntuli wanted to know if they could start with votes where there was consensus and deal last with those that parties had declared they would not support.

“We know parties made a public declaration on which vote they are to vote for. We know the DA where it stands unless it changes. We know the MK has tended to vote against everything.”

He acknowledged that the areas of disagreement over some votes were political and not technical.

“When we refer to the committee, political disagreement won’t find a solution,” he said, adding that the committee can’t solve the issue if a party does not support a particular vote because they have issues with a certain minister.

MK Party’s Visvin Reddy said the parliamentary processes should be allowed to unfold.

“You can’t say for certain this is how parties will vote. There will be behind-the-scenes meetings,” he said.

However, National Assembly Secretary Masibulele Xaso indicated that it could be arranged that the contentious votes be dealt with last.

“That should not be an issue. If there is a need that there must suspension of business to consult, business can be suspended and parties will be able to consult,” he said.

Responding to Ntuli’s question about timeframe for the standing committee to further process the bill once rejected by the national Assembly, parliamentary legal advisor Frank Jenkins said: “That is within Parliament authority to determine its internal arrangements.”

But, Xaso indicated that parliamentary rules provide that the same bill can’t be introduced more than once in a session.

“The House can decide by resolution that a bill can be reintroduced,” he said.

Didiza said they would provide further clarity to the parties on legal issues should the need arise.

“If there is a need for quicker consultation with whips and the National Assembly Programme Committee next week, we will have a meeting even if it means the sitting is online so that all parties attend. If there are new matters, the amendment of rules will be done,” she said.

Meanwhile, EFF MP Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi called for the tightening of rules and any legal gaps on matters related to the budget.

“Parliament must move with speed,” she said.

This was a sentiment similar echoed by Ntuli earlier.

“We need to imagine what it is that we can do within our power in the event the law is silent,” he said in reference to a lacuna that was never anticipated by lawmakers.

Didiza undertook to come in the event that there might be legal gaps and rules that might need consideration.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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