Public infrastructure investment over the next three years will amount to R847 billion, said the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan in his 2014 Budget Speech on 26 February.
Good news for disadvantaged communities is that spending on social infrastructure such as health, education and community facilities will increase from R30 billion in 2012/13 to R43 billion in 2016/17. Priority will be given to school, clinic and hospital infrastructure.
A total of R40 billion in infrastructure grants will be transferred to local governments for their water, sanitation, energy and environmental functions.
The private sector’s contribution to infrastructure will amount to an investment of R70 billion.
In order to promote city development and municipal service delivery, an integrated city development grant to the amount of R814 million will be introduced.
Over the next three years Government will allocate R105 billion to municipalities for free basic water, sanitation, electricity and refuse removal. This is a very clear indication from government to unhappy citizens that it wants to address the service delivery woes.
A further R3,9 billion has been allocated to capacity-building programmes, targeted at small towns and rural municipalities.
