Parliament approves Division of Revenue Amendment Bill

© Sergii Gnatiuk – 123RF.com

The bill, which Finance Minister Tito Mboweni tabled when he presented his maiden Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) last month, also changes the specific purpose allocations to provinces and changes allocations-in-kind to provinces and municipalities for designated special programmes.

The bill is made necessary because of the proposed national adjustment budget for the 2018/19 financial year. This affects the division of revenue between the national, provincial and local spheres of government.

“The Select Committee on Appropriations in the National Council of Provinces has already scheduled its consideration of Negotiating Mandates on the Division of Revenue Amendment Bill for Friday,” said Parliament.

Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Bill

At Tuesday’s plenary sitting, the National Assembly also agreed to the Electronic Deeds Registration Systems Bill. The bill aims to facilitate development of an electronic deeds registration system to effect speedy registration of large volumes of deeds, as called for by government’s land reform initiatives.

It is also intended to improve turnaround times for providing registered deeds and documents, enable countrywide access to deeds registration services, enhance accuracy of examination and registration, make information accessible to the public and contain security features related to confidentiality, non-repudiation, integrity and availability.

The bills will now be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence.