Staff Reporter
The National Assembly on Tuesday passed the Appropriation Bill, approving about R1.2 trillion in allocations to national government departments and institutions for the 2026/27 financial year.
The bill provides for the appropriation of money from the National Revenue Fund to meet the state’s requirements and sets conditions for how the funds may be spent.
It gives effect to the national budget tabled by the Minister of Finance and allocates funding to support government programmes, service delivery and the work of national departments and institutions.
In its report to the House, the Standing Committee on Appropriations welcomed the proposed allocation, saying the funds were critical to enabling government to meet its constitutional obligations and developmental priorities.
The committee said it had undertaken an extensive consultation and public participation process while considering the bill. This included engagements with the Financial and Fiscal Commission, the Parliamentary Budget Office, government departments, organised labour, civil society organisations and constitutional institutions.
The committee also invited written and oral submissions from the public in line with the Constitution and the Money Bills Amendment Procedure and Related Matters Act. Public hearings on the bill were held on 3 June.
Submissions dealt with economic growth, job creation, service delivery, social protection, local government funding, infrastructure investment and fiscal oversight.
The committee welcomed additional allocations for healthcare services, public transport infrastructure and the extension of the Social Relief of Distress Grant until 31 March 2027.
It also highlighted the need for adequate funding for Statistics South Africa, saying the institution must be able to continue producing reliable and credible statistical information for planning, policy development and decision-making.
The committee recommended continued engagement between National Treasury, relevant government departments and parliamentary committees on funding needs identified for Statistics South Africa and the National Housing Finance Corporation. It said these matters should be considered during the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement process.
It also made recommendations aimed at strengthening oversight of public spending, improving efficiency in government expenditure and ensuring value for money in the use of public resources.
The bill will now be referred to the National Council of Provinces for consideration.
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