All eyes on the Gauteng budget
Ahead of the Gauteng Medium Term Budget Policy Statement that Finance MEC Barbara Creecy will present to the Legislature next week Thursday, The Star walked the streets of Joburg in an effort to find out from residents what their spending priorities are..
THE GAUTENG provincial government budget for next year is estimated at more than R110 billion and the MEC for Finance, Barbara Creecy, will present the province’s 2017 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement to the legislature on November 16.
The statement sets out policy areas that the government is considering for funding over the next three years.
It is therefore a good platform for the public and civil society to directly influence the budget process and contribute broadly to improving the state of public finances in the province.
Creecy has launched an initiative to allow the public to contribute directly to the process of creating next year’s budget to ensure that the local government’s spending plan responds to the needs of Gauteng’s residents.
Connect with the MEC via Twitter @ BarbaraCreecyGP and share your ideas on the Gauteng Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement using #GPMTBPS17
Thembani Makata, 30, a student from Marshalltown, Joburg:
“I think part of the things that must be prioritised by the government is student accommodation. There are many buildings here in the city and in Gauteng that are just standing and need to be renovated. Prioritise student accommodation. I think that will go a long way.” Lucio Moreira, 25, an FNB consultant: “I think we just need a new government in general. Since the beginning of the democracy, it hasn’t worked… well, it has to some extent, but since we’ve had President Jacob Zuma things have been bad throughout South Africa, and not just in the province.” Precious Mashego, 20s, East Rand, FNB administrator:
“To improve monitoring, they must check and keep records of what the money was used for. If they rendered a service they must check to see if it is legitimate. The province should make sure that their budget aligns with what they set out to do. When the money arrives, the money set in the budget must be covered, and not on unnecessary things.” Jennifer Botha, 59, baker/home industry manager:
“I don’t read so much about the accountability of public funds and corruption because I don’t know what’s true or not. I don’t have proof but if the money can be spent wisely, it will really make a difference.
“Traffic cops, the police and taxis all need some control – that is when the city will build up again.
“The city needs a good clean-up, homeless people need to be cared for and seen to, the street children and drug addicts also need to be attended to. The government needs to have certain places where people can go, where they can get cleaned up and get treatment. One can see that some of them are not functioning well in their mind and they desperately need some help. It’s not nice to live on the streets like that.” Delia Kamaar, 42, health and safety officer, Ennerdale:
“One thing I know about the budget speeches is towards the end, when they discuss the sin taxes. The sin taxes go up; we also get (the worst of it) for cigarettes and alcohol, and it’s close to the festive season. I don’t know why they don’t just wait until after Christmas and then they can increase the tax on everything.” Zanele Mofokeng, 20, student, Orange Farm:
“I think the provincial government can look into the programmes that they are funding to ensure their legitimacy and existence because we all know that there is corruption in these public programmes. They should just prioritise. It seems that they take the money and put it into things that are unnecessary such as sport. (Sport) is important but education comes first.” Philadelphia Mahlalela, events co-ordinator:
“More clinics and hospitals should be built, and schools and libraries in different community areas should be taken care of. In the southern areas, there is still a whole lot of work that needs to be done.
“If funds are actually allocated to different communities, the first priority should be in healthcare and education.”