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WATCH | Ramaphosa outlines Budget Vote speech amid impeachment inquiry pressure

Simon Majadibodu|Published
President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to outline the Presidency’s spending priorities in Parliament on Tuesday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to outline the Presidency’s spending priorities in Parliament on Tuesday.

Image: GCIS / Phando Jikelo

President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently presenting the Presidency’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, outlining how his office plans to spend its money and the key projects and goals the government will focus on.

Ramaphosa is delivering the budget vote at the National Assembly at 2.pm on Tuesday.

The Presidency budget covers programmes that support the president, the deputy president and Cabinet in the running of government. 

Ramaphosa’s address will set out spending priorities amid ongoing service delivery challenges, including water shortages, power outages, pothole-riddled roads, ageing infrastructure and poor sanitation.

The country continues to face high unemployment, particularly among young people, alongside persistent crime and rampant corruption. 

Opposition parties have long criticised Ramaphosa’s administration for its handling of these issues.

The budget vote takes place ahead of the local government elections scheduled for 4 November. 

MPs will debate the budget following the president’s speech, with Ramaphosa expected to deliver his reply on Wednesday.

Ramaphosa returns to the National Assembly shortly after his most recent question-and-answer session on May 14.

His budget vote comes amid heightened political tensions, including a pending Section 89 impeachment inquiry. 

The inquiry is expected to feature prominently in the debate.

Rise Mzansi MP Makashule Gana has been elected chairperson of Parliament’s Phala Phala impeachment committee, securing 19 votes against ATM MP Dr Wonderboy Mahlatsi, who received 12.

The election took place on Monday during the committee’s first meeting, convened to select its chairperson. ANC MP Mikateko Mahlaule nominated Gana, while EFF MP Omphile Maotwe nominated Mahlatsi.

Gana was supported by the ANC, DA, Patriotic Alliance and Freedom Front Plus. 

Mahlatsi was backed by the EFF, MK Party, ActionSA, National Coloured Congress, Build One South Africa, ATM and the United Traditional Alliance.

The 31-member committee, drawn from 16 political parties, will reassess the Phala Phala report and determine whether there are sufficient grounds to recommend the president’s removal from office over the alleged theft of more than $580,000 from his Limpopo game farm in 2020.

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