Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Tuesday defended the Special Appropriation Bill, saying he did not make any back door allocations as claimed by some parties.

Speaking during the debate on the 2026 Special Appropriation Bill in the National Assembly, Godongwana said the Public Finance Management Act empowered him to inform the national legislature when no resources could be found for specified projects but, he could come back once the resources were available.

“When you mention something in the Budget, you are not putting back door as some members try to suggest. You are being transparent to Parliament to say within the available resources, I could not fund the following priorities, but should resources be available, I am to come back to Parliament. That is what I have done. It is not back door,” he said.

In February, Godongwana had indicated when he tabled the 2026 Budget that the 2025 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement included R8.5 billion that was added to the contingency reserve.

He had said the Special Appropriation Bill tabled on Tuesday also included, among others, R5.8 billion for Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (Prasa) rolling stock fleet renewal programme, R1 billion for South Africa’s share subscription to the International Finance Corporation, and R700 million for the Department of Communications and Digital Technology.

In its report, the Standing Committee on Appropriation welcomed the R13.5 billion expenditure approved as part of the contingency reserve.

It also noted the R2 billion for the rebuilding of Parliament, R1.1 billion for the 2026 local government elections, R1 billion for the purchase of shares in the International Finance Corporation, and R8.3 billion to the Development Bank of South Africa Infrastructure Fund for the North Corridor Reinstatement Project and the Iron Ore Corridor.

The committee also notes the R5.7 billion for Prasa’s rolling stock fleet renewal programme, which included R1.8 billion to meet its obligations under an agreement with service provider Gibela to pay for 35 locomotives in a year and R889 million to Sentech.

ANC MP Nonceba Gcaleka-Mazibuko said the Special Operation was supporting the Operation Vulindela in its initiatives on rail, freight, and ports.

“We agree that an important transport sector is commuter rail. It is the most affordable source of transport for the working-class workers,” she said.

“The Special Appropriation is about allocating funds to support areas already prioritised by the government of the period ending 2025 and 2026. The ANC fully supports the special appropriation because of the improving budget conditions, which required spending on priority areas,” Gcaleka-Mazibuko said.

However, MK Party MP Thulani Gamede said the Special Appropriation report was asking Parliament to rubber stamp continued mismanagement of public funds than a bold stimulus.

“It is emergency band aid for self-inflicted wounds,” Gamede said.

He said the Bill failed to address the living realities of the majority.

“The MK can’t in good conscience support a Bill that treats the National Revenue Fund like a petty cash drawer for state entities that refuse to be accountable and a donation box to international bankers,” said Gamede.

EFF MP Nonhlanhla Mkhonto rejected the Bill, saying it reflected the government’s inability to plan, account, and govern in the interest of the people.

Mkhonto noted that when the refurbishment of Parliament begun, the initial cost was estimated at R2.2 billion.

“We must add another R2 billion and there is still not certainly on the final costs. This is unacceptable.” 

Mkhonto said the Bill exposed contradictions in the government, as the state was building infrastructure to hand over the rail infrastructure to the private sector for privatisation.

“We need a budgeting system that is proactive, aligned to the industrial strategy, and directs resources to transform the structure of the economy.”

 DA MP Mark Burke said the Special Appropriation should be an exception than a rule.

 “It should exist for emergencies,” he said.

Burke said the Special Allocation was left open to abuse and that spending was justified by mere brief mention in the Budget speech.

“We call on Parliament to tighten the appropriation to allow for emergencies. For too long power was taken from this Parliament. We cannot allow a usual process to be undermined, and lawmakers be undermined,” he said.

*This article was first published by IOL News