Parliament faces calls to bring back pre-budget hearings

CAPE TOWN - Parliament is facing calls to bring back pre-budget hearings and improve public participation before Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the budget.

On Wednesday, organisations made the call during public hearings into the Division of Revenue and Appropriation bills held by the National Council of Provinces’ (NCOP) select committee on appropriations.

The National Treasury hasn’t held pre-budget hearings in recent years after introducing the initiative to “enrich” the budget process in 2019.

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Zukiswa Kota from the Public Service Accountability Monitor said this is a good time to reintroduce them.

"But in this instance, we really place emphasis and call on the parliamentary committees and, particularly the select committee on appropriations, to join us in really deepening these questions and potentially pushing for the reintroduction of at least pre-budget hearings."

The Budget Justice Coalition’s Lisa Higginson agreed.

"We would also like to call for work on expanding public participation across the budget process. So this is pre-budget engagements and expenditure monitoring."