The Standing Committee on Appropriations was yesterday briefed by National Treasury on the 2021 Appropriations Bill and the Special Appropriations Bill. The committee's processing of the bills follows on the budget tabled by the Minister of Finance in February and the subsequent passing of the Division of Revenue Bill.
During the briefing, the committee heard about severe budget reductions across government departments, implemented by National Treasury as part of an initiative to raise a R300 billion shortfall. While the committee acknowledged that the 2021 Appropriations Bill came at a very trying time for the country, Chairperson Mr Sfiso Buthelezi said "our panacea will come from economic growth. We will cut and cut until we cannot cut anymore. Our problems will be solved when we get our economy back to growing," he said.
...