Barbara Creecy tables Gauteng’s 2018 budget
JOBURG – Gauteng's budget has increased to R121 billion, the majority of which will be spent on healthcare and education.
Gauteng Finance MEC Barbara Creecy has tabled a budget of over R121 billion, which increased by R9 billion since last year.
Creecy discussed the plans for the budget during a speech on 6 March at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. The budget focused on health and education in particular, with the two sectors receiving 75 per cent of the budget.
“The new dawn pronounced by President Ramaphosa energises us to build partnerships to tackle poverty, inequality and unemployment. It inspires us to once again confront intractable problems,” said Creecy.
She noted that while there are high rates of migration to the province they would work to mitigate spending pressures so that residents would not feel the impact.
“Health and education, in particular, will still face spending pressure. To close funding gaps we are primarily dependant on provincial revenue and off-budget investment and partnerships.”
Infrastructure also received a significant contribution from the budget, R31.8 billion, which will be used in the city’s five corridors, namely the northern, eastern, western, southern and northern over the next three years.
The design phase of the province’s first new highway since the 70s will also begin this year. She added that it is agreed that the e-toll system has failed and the provincial government would be approaching Ramaphosa to discuss a different mechanism to fund the project.
Additionally, the Department of Economic Development has been allocated R1.5 billion which will be used for small business development and the Tshwane Innovation Hub, among others.
Education has been allocated R45.2 billion which will be used for public schools, special schools, a hot meal programme and transportation, among others.
The Gauteng Department of Health will receive the largest portion of the budget, R46.4 billion, which will primarily focus on hiring personnel, funding goods and services and settle a long-standing debt with the National Health Laboratory Services.
“The possibility of transformation, economic recovery and a sound, ethical, compassionate and accountable government is what inspires us in this ANC-led Gauteng city region to rehabilitate our wounded dreams,” concluded Creecy.
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Also read:
Budget speech: High earners to be taxed more
Creecy: Gauteng government’s spending needs more discipline
