The Mpumalanga DA said the provincial budget speech by the MEC for finance, economic development and tourism, Nompumelelo Hlophe, at the Provincial Legislature on March 7, evoked mixed feelings.
The DA’s Bosman Grobler said, “Though some of budget expectations raised by the DA were addressed, we are very concerned that they once again ignored the plight of our people against the rising cost of living, as no poverty alleviation strategies were provided in the budget. Living in a province where most residents are living within the lower-bound poverty line of R810, we expected the budget speech to mention that government will increase the number of people who access food through community development nutrition centres”.
According to Grobler, the budget speech affirmed that the province is not capable of sustaining itself on its own collected revenue, but is heavily dependent on grants.
“Mpumalanga provincial revenue accounts for a mere 4.2%. The other bulk is 78.5%, equitable shares, and 17.3% which is conditional grants. Once again, the ANC cash cow, the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) was allocated R18m to ‘improve their loan book and renovate some of the factories they own’. But knowing MEGA’s history, this R18m is going to be a waste of taxpayers’ money as it is likely to be siphoned and end up in the pockets of comrades through corruption.”
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Grobler said the DA applauds the fact that R13m was set aside for the employment of health specialists, as well as the R10m that was set aside towards a neonatal unit in Witbank Hospital.
“We are sceptical that these appointments and projects will be successfully implemented because of a lack of leadership from the health MEC, Sasekani Manzini.
“We also welcome the R1.1m set aside towards schools’ infrastructure; the R404.2m for the learner/teacher supply materials (LTSM); and the R84.6m towards school nutrition. We also hope that the provincial Department of Education is able to spend their infrastructure budget in this financial year. We are pleased that MEC Hlophe heeded our call for money to be set aside for LTSM.”
Grobler said the DA is extremely concerned about the R90m allocated to the completion and operationalisation of the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market.
“For years now and on many occasions, we have been told it is nearing completion, but it never did. The finance MEC once again heeded the call and allocated R18m to the revitalisation of our parks. We welcome the R12m set aside to build recreational facilities at the Swartfontein and Nkangala treatment centres.”
Grobler said most importantly, the party welcomes the more than R5.4b budgeted for the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT).
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“We hope, among other things, that a portion of this money will be used to rehabilitate, fix and maintain the following projects: the P57/2 road in Thaba Chweu, the D4407 and D4416 in Bushbuckridge, and the D481 in Chief Albert Luthuli. To sustain and create jobs, we hope that a portion of the money allocated to the DPWRT will be used to rightfully rehabilitate all the coal haulages and tourism routes across the province, especially the Panorama Route, which has the most tourist destinations of Mpumalanga, including the Kruger National Park and God’s Window. Mining and tourism are the two biggest employers in the province, so it would be wise to invest more money in infrastructure associated with those sectors.”
During an interview with the newspaper, the Mpumalanga DA leader, Jane Sithole, said some projects and money allocated include the parliamentary village, but not the school for the deaf.
“As the DA, we are not happy that a lot of money has been allocated to MEGA. It has not yet produced anything to this province. The agency is taking so much money in the province for years without results. The MEGA must be disbanded. In terms of the other funds that has been put to other areas, we appreciate that there’s more money that has been allocated for hospitals, so that clinics are operating 24 hours.”
