Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) will propose twenty-six amendments to the adjusted budget to make available R904 million to fund the shortfall resulting from the zero-percent student fees increase, in the 2015/16 Financial Year.

Bizarrely, the Department of Higher Education and Training plans to fund the shortfall in student fees inter alia by shifting R361 million away from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions.

There is absolutely no reason why the shortfall in student fees should be funded at the expense of poor students attending Historically Disadvantaged Institutions.

The shortfall in student fees can be funded by cutting wasteful expenditure and reprioritizing expenditure within the existing budget.

That is why the Democratic Alliance will propose twenty-six amendments to the adjusted budget which are aimed at shifting:

• R720 million from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, earmarked for foreign missions, to the Department of Higher Education and Training; and
• a further R184 million, in wasteful expenditure, from various departments to the Department of Higher Education and Training.

The Standing Committee on Appropriations meets this morning at 08h30 in V227 to consider the Adjustments Appropriation Bill in ahead of tomorrow’s debate on the adjusted budget in the National Assembly.

 

Issued by DA