Budget puts Cape back in business

DESPITE the Economic Development and Tourism Department’s main appropriation of R523.36 million having been adjusted downwards by R12.1m to R511.26m for the 2019/20 financial year, the focus remains on getting the province back to business.

This was the gist of Economic Development and Tourism MEC David Maynier’s speech in the legislature as he presented the department’s Adjustments Appropriation Bill.

In his adjusted estimates of provincial revenue and expenditure for 2019, Maynier said the department would shift R1m to the Oudtshoorn aerodrome project, R1.4m to support the Violence Prevention Through Urban Upgrading organisation and R100 000 to assist halaal certification bodies to become globally accredited as certification bodies.

“This will allow them to certify halaal products and companies for important halaal export markets.

“The department plays a critical role in creating an enabling environment for the private sector and for the markets to drive economic growth and create jobs in the province,” said Maynier.

Standing committee on finance, economic opportunities and tourism chairperson Deidré Baartman supported the MEC: “We welcome the provision of funds for the filling of vacant posts as part of the skills incentives unit, and again, we take cognisance that government has had to balance decisions of whether or not one should fill a vacant post or whether we could use those extra funds for the drought and security and safety of the province.

“While, R50m for drought and R1 billion for community safety is not enough, we hope that the R12m surrendered to the Provincial Revenue Fund would assist in providing relief for drought and making the Western Cape safer.”

ANC committee member Nomi Nkondlo said: “This department is meant to lead in unlocking growth opportunities for the province, but 10 years later we are still speaking of high income inequality in the province and spiralling levels of crime.”