The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, the main opposition in Parliament, said it won’t support the Appropriation Bill on Wednesday for a litany of service delivery failures it said are being committed by the Government of National Unity (GNU).
The bill, which apportions money to state departments, is the last bridge to cross before the national budget is finalised.
But the MK Party said it can’t support a budget that does not deliver for poor and marginalised South Africans.
MK Party
The MK Party said it will be counting on the so-called Progressive Alliance to band together to reject the Appropriation Bill and thus Budget 2025.
Parliamentary whip Colleen Makhubele said there’s a glaring disconnect between the budget, government, and the people.
“Instead, it indicates systematic control failures and mismanagement by the GNU, and they have failed to return the people’s money back to the people in the form of tax cuts, gainful employment, meaningful social grants, reliable basic services, school uniform for our poor rural children.”
Although the Democratic Alliance (DA) has said it will support the Appropriation Bill following the axing of African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament (MP) Nobuhle Nkabane as Higher Education Minister, the MK Party’s parliamentary leader, John Hlophe, said Wednesday’s vote will be a crucial test for the DA.
“The DA has voted against the budget in certain portfolios. We are hoping that sanity will prevail, and they will be consistent.”
DA leader John Steenhuisen said the MK Party was not in a position to lecture it on principles, with two MK Party MPs recently arrested on corruption charges.
In other news – Skeem Saam’s Amanda Manku welcomes her second child
Skeem Saam actress and TV presenter Amanda Manku has welcomed her second child. The 33-year-old star, celebrated for her role as Dr Elizabeth Thobakgale on SABC1’s hit drama, was due to testify on 21 July 2025 at the Polokwane High Court.
She was expected as a key witness in her father’s murder trial but could not attend due to her delivery. State prosecutors confirmed Manku had requested to testify via video link; however, the court has opted to proceed with other witnesses while she recovers. Read More
