ANC not happy with Finance MEC’s budget

POLITICAL parties had mixed reactions to Western Cape Finance MEC Ivan Meyer’s 2018 budget speech, with some criticising investment in the poor while others welcomed the drought relief funds.

Meyer tabled his budget in the Legislature yesterday, but the ANC was not impressed. Carol Beerwinkel, spokesperson on finance, said the DA’s silence and vagueness on possible plans over the longer term to ensure enough future water is a charge against the same DA that failed to plan, manage and respond adequately to the water situation.

Beerwinkel also said the budget gives too little support to struggling municipalities, poor people living in rural areas and for rural development.

Dennis Joseph, DA spokesperson on finance, said he welcomed the more than R250 million that will be allocated to drought relief efforts. “I am pleased with these allocations, as they reconfirm the DA’s commitment to the poor and most vulnerable residents. With the largest allocations remaining within ministries which provide essential services to uplift our people and ensure their well-being, this demonstrates our unwavering pledge to improve the lives of all residents in the province,” he said.

African Christian Democratic Party leader Ferlon Christians said more must be done to keep schools and communities safer.