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and suspend the debate.
Nhlambeni MP Manzi Zwane submitted that there was a soft copy of the report and it had information about the university. He suggested that the debate should proceed.
However, the Ndzingeni MP stated that he himself had not debated and wished to. “I want to debate on UNESWA, it is not in this report that I was given. Don’t tell me about a soft copy you did not give me. We want to debate, this report is wrong, we have been lied to, the minister has confirmed it.
“Take this report and bring the right one so we debate on it. Where is the problem? What else is wrong in here?” he queried. MP Michael Masuku supported that the debate be adjourned. He asked when the next sitting would be.
Copy
On the contrary, appointed Shiselweni MP Nokuthula Dlamini affirmed that the legislators should proceed with the debate and the ministry should bring the report as soft copy.
“Point of order chair, this House has no provision for a soft copy in the standing orders. Let’s not even talk about soft copies,” MP Lutfo said.
The MPs were preceded by appointed MP Indvuna Themba Ginindza, who expressed great concern on the many issues affecting the university. Ginindza noted that the university seemingly closed occasionally. He mentioned that two weeks would not go by without it closing.
“Who is causing this? What is happening at the university?” he asked. Eventually, the debate was suspended. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Training has been allocated E3 533 799 153. This translates to 14.7 per cent of the national budget, and it showed an increase from the previous year’s budget of E49 250 693 as it recorded 0.20 per cent of the national budget for the ministry.
This was revealed by Minister Mabuza in her preamble before portfolio committee members of the ministry. Mabuza stated that the allocation for the 2022-23 budget was such that E3 465 049 153 was allocated for recurrent activities and programmes implemented by the ministry, while E68 750 000 was for capital projects.
“The recurrent budget tracks ongoing revenues and expenses that occur on a regular basis of the ministry’s programme, such as the provision of curriculum development, vocational and technical skills developments, skills centres developments, special education and related services for pupils with disabilities and free primary education (FPE) grants, and overall management and coordination in the ministry,” she detailed. Minister Mabuza further highlighted that the capital project, was for the implementation of development projects which were six in number for this financial year.
Meanwhile, she revealed that with regard to FPE grants, the first tranche of payment was ongoing and three-quarters of schools had been paid. She added that in this quarter under review, E388 380 041 had been released and E285 620 543 had been spent and committed to cater for books and stationery, payment of school feeding and FPE grants.