Ramaphosa can expect grilling as NA heads into final debates on budget allocations
On Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza will present the budget for an institution facing a R2 billion rebuild after a fire more than three years ago that razed its chamber building.
President Cyril Ramaphosa answered oral questions in the National Assembly on 27 May 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/Parliament
CAPE TOWN - As the National Assembly heads into the final debates on budget allocations, President Cyril Ramaphosa can expect a grilling this week.
On Tuesday, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza will present the budget for an institution facing a R2 billion rebuild after a fire more than three years ago that razed its chamber building.
But it will be the final budget debate on Wednesday on the Presidency that will be most keenly watched, with political parties in Parliament still having failed to achieve their goal of a dedicated parliamentary committee to keep a watch over the president.
On Tuesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will deliver the budget on the State Security Agency (SSA), which falls under the Presidency, while the National Treasury manages the budget.
Ntshavheni’s already come under fire from ActionSA for refusing to publicly disclose her travel expenditure to Parliament, arguing it would compromise the agency.
Didiza is also expected to outline the work of Parliament for the year ahead, having announced last week that she was ordering three committees to probe the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
With tensions strained between the president and the Democratic Alliance (DA) over compromised Cabinet ministers, and Sunday’s announcement of a commission of inquiry into the police, Ramaphosa will come face to face with his detractors to motivate the expenditure of his presidency, an occasion which has in the past turned chaotic and even violent.
He’s likely to face challenges from the opposition benches over his decision to invoke his constitutional prerogative to make an appointment outside of the National Assembly to fill the shoes of the police minister while Senzo Mchunu is suspended.
The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party said if he doesn’t retract that decision by Wednesday, it will mount a legal challenge against the appointment and prepare a motion of no confidence against him.