ATC240326: Report of Standing Committee on Finance on the Responsible Spending Bill [B9 – 2023], 26 March 2024

Report of Standing Committee on Finance on the Responsible Spending Bill [B9 – 2023], 26 March 2024

Motion of Desirability on the Responsible Spending Bill [B9 – 2023]

The Committee was, on 14 February 2024, briefed by Dr Dion George, the member who initiated and introduced the Responsible Spending Bill [B9 – 2023] (“the Bill”).
The Committee published the Bill and requested interested persons to make written and oral submissions on the Bill.
On 13 March 2024, the Committee held public hearings and received submissions from one stakeholder, who also made oral presentations.
On 20 March 2024, the Committee received a response and input from National Treasury, as is required by law for the affected department to make an input on a Private Members’ Bill.
On 26 March 2024, the Committee voted on the Motion of Desirability. Hnr. Dr Dion George, MP, moved for the adoption of the Motion of Desirability. Hon. Wendy Alexander supported the motion.
Hnr. Mzwanele Manyi, MP, objected to the Motion of Desirability, seconded by Hnr. Phumulo Masualle, MP. The reasons for the objections can be found in the Committee’s report on the Bill submitted with this Motion.
Two members, Dr. Dion George and Ms. Wendy Alexander, voted in support of the Motion of Desirability. However, five members of the Committee, including Mr. Mzwanele Manyi, Ms. Noxolo Abraham, Ms. Zanele Nkomo, Mr. Phumulo Masualle, and Ms. Dorothy Mabiletsa, voted against the Motion.
With two members supporting and five members opposing the Motion of Desirability, the Committee rejected it, indicating a lack of consensus or support for advancing the Bill in its current form.