MEC unveils Gauteng budget

MID-TERM: MONEY FOR JOBS, EDUCATION, HEALTH ‘We will work with national, other stakeholders to ensure service delivery.’

The 2020 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement for Gauteng did not set off any fireworks yesterday, with education getting the biggest part of the budget. Finance and e-government MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko also set aside an additional R1.3 billion for job creation.

She allocated R1.1 billion to hire education assistants and preserve posts in quintile four and five public schools and low-income private schools. Health got an additional R47.4 million to appoint nurses, while social development got R77.8 million for salary top-ups for additional compliance support duties and employment risk support. Roads and transport got R45.5 million.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said the tough economic times have resulted in revenue shortfalls.

“We will continue to work with national and other relevant stakeholders to ensure service delivery is not affected,” she said.

As the remodelled Growing Gauteng Together, Vision 2030 has identified infrastructure as one of the key interventions to rebuild and grow the economy, she increased the infrastructure budget by R80.8 million to R12.3 billion.

“Gauteng is already working with the Infrastructure South Africa Agency in the Presidency and is planning to set up infrastructure investment to revive the provincial economy,” she said.

According to Nkomo-Ralehoko, the Gauteng government continues to improve the ease of doing business in each sector in compliance with applicable lockdown regulations.

She also referred to the problem-riddled Emfuleni local municipality and said it was important that the municipality resumes basic service delivery.

About R51.1 million will be allocated to agriculture and rural development to support this municipality, she said.

Nkomo-Ralehoko admitted that corrupt activities in supply chain management for the procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE) had damaged the trust between people and government.

Therefore, the provincial treasury would disclose the provincial expenditure on PPE every month.