Almost R300k savings for taxpayers amid Budget Speech cost containment measures

KZN Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer confirms that tabling the 2024/25 Budget Speech for his department will cost taxpayers less than R300 – a reduction from over R228 000 in the previous financial year.

As part of the provincial government’s cost-cutting measures last month, Meyer committed to reducing unnecessary expenditure on niceties, including new banners and billboards in the run-up to the province’s budget process for the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (PW&I).

ALSO READ: WATCH: Transnet announces decongestion initiatives for Port of Richards Bay-bound trucks

“The move will save taxpayers R227 700 and this year’s budget speech will be characterised by the department’s aspiration to curb unwarranted spending. The department will no longer be spending money on unnecessary niceties or superfluous perks that do not benefit the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” said Meyer.

“The implementation of these stringent financial measures is intended to redirect monies towards accelerating service delivery and spending on the department’s core functions.”

Among other things, the department will not be spending on a printed glossy booklet budget speech with the MEC’s face on it, saving the department over R70 000 alone.

ALSO READ: Richards Bay Festival around the corner

“The budget speech will be printed in-house on regular paper. No new pull-up banners will be procured for the upcoming budget speech. No gifts or goody bags for members of the Provincial Legislature will be procured by the department,” said the MEC.

These cost containment measures have prompted the department to theme this year as The Year of Making the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure Work for the People of KZN through Innovation and Collaboration.

In what will be Meyer’s maiden budget speech since his appointment as the executive authority of the department, the MEC will focus on cost containment measures, tackling fruitless and wasteful expenditure, aggressive strategies to combat the construction mafia, plans to sell unutilised government buildings, and unveil the department’s artisan programme.

The budget vote will be tabled at the KZN Legislature on Thursday.

HAVE YOUR SAY