R10m to relocate patients to mental hospital

TEN MILLION rand has been allocated to relocate patients from West End Hospital to the new Kimberley mental health hospital, where the MEC for Health, Fufe Makatog, had indicated earlier this month that the new facility would be admitting patients “by the end of the calendar year”.

While delivering the Northern Cape appropriation bill 2018 and the provincial medium-term budget policy statement yesterday, the MEC for Finance, Economic Affairs and Tourism, Mac Jack, said that R5 million would be made available to operationalise various new clinics.

Jack said that in these times of economic hardship and low growth rates the unemployment rate in the Province had increased to 27 percent.

“Weaker economic growth as well as high unemployment can impact negatively on the fiscus due to potentially lower tax income and a higher demand for basic services. It is going to be difficult going forward as government would have to relook at the budget and re-prioritise without impacting on service delivery. It is thus important for provincial departments to re-prioritise and tighten expenditure.”

Jack said that R20 million would be allocated to the Department of Education to address the shortfall in respect of improvements on conditions of service.

“As a result of the outbreak of the polio disease in Gauteng, an amount of R2 million has been set aside for surveillance and detection in the Province.” BUDGET ALLOCATIONS

Department of Social Development: Renovation and upgrading of Lerato Place of Safety:

R3.3 million

Social relief distress: R5 million Substance abuse treatment grant: R4.2 million

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture: Repair and maintenance of the AR Abass Stadium and Mayibuye Cultural Centre: R5 million

Cultural and creative arts projects: R2.5 million

Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development: Animal feed for drought-stricken commercial and emerging farmers: R85 million

Landcare: R35 million Department of Roads and Public Works: Expanded Public Works Programme: R20 million Consolidation and surveying of immovable assets: R20 million Upgrading of the Hotazel-Tsineng road: R6.4 million Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs: Traditional leaders: R3.9 million

Water reticulation project in Siyathemba Municipality: R8 million

Sanitation – Ubuntu Municipality: R5 million Department of Economic Development and Tourism:

R22.5 million

Youth Development Conference: R5 million

Urgent maintenance of Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre: R4.5 million

Department of Environment and Nature Conservation: R8 million Office of the Premier:

R6.9 million

The Provincial Legislature:

R20.3 million

Provincial Treasury:

R27.9 million

Department of Transport, Safety and Liaison: R29.8 million Boegoebaai/Port Nolloth ports commitments: R10 million Special Economic Zones (SEZ) initiatives: R3 million

Learner transport: R11.2 million National priority funds:

R155.1 million

Department of Social Development: Food relief: R13.7 million Provincial Treasury: Infrastructure: R15 million,

R29.9 million support interventions at municipalities Department of Education: Sanitary products for school girls from Grade 4 and up: R8.8 million

Department of Health: Absorption of doctors returning from Cuba: R26.4 million