NA finally passes Division of Revenue Amendment bill

Cape Town – ANC MPs heeded the call from chief whip Jackson Mthembu to be in their seats in the National Assembly on Tuesday and pass the Division of Revenue Amendment bill.

The ANC and the ministerial benches were packed to capacity on Tuesday, in an effort to avoid the embarrassment of the past two sittings last week, when a quorum could not be reached.

It was passed with 228 votes in favour, 86 votes against, and zero abstentions. It now goes to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.

The bill serves to make provision for changes in the allocations to provinces and local governments in the current financial year.

Mthembu on Thursday said it was embarrassing that they could not get the numbers to pass the bill on November 15 and 16, although more than 200 ANC MPs had indicated they would be in attendance.

Those MPs who were absent without reason on both days would face disciplinary processes.