The 2024/25 Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) budget tabled by the Gauteng MEC for Finance, Jacob Mamabolo, today, as expected, seeks to implement all the promises made by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Province Address (SOPA). These promises are an attempt to lure voters and will not benefit or uplift the lives of Gauteng residents.
A total of R165,8 billion has been allocated for the provincial budget for the 2024/2025 financial year. To address the issue of crime that has a negative impact on the economy of the province, the Gauteng Department of Community Safety has been allocated a total of R2,3 billion for the new financial year. As a testament to the poor spending patterns in the department, this amounts to a 16% reduction in the annual budget. This time, according to the department, recruits are continuously failing to obtain drone pilot licences, and a service provider has to fly the department’s drones.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that bolstering crime-fighting capabilities in the province is a step in the right direction. However, having a programme similar to the LEAP programme in the Western Cape would be a much better use of resources.
The Gauteng Department of Economic Development is receiving a total of R1,7 billion to improve the township economy, industrial parks, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), which are meant to create more job opportunities. Yet, the SEZs and industrial parks are in a state of disrepair, which means that the budget previously allocated was not used properly. This is one of the departments that continuously fails to meet job creation targets.
R65.8 billion has been allocated to the Gauteng Department of Education, but MEC Mamabolo has not mentioned how this will eradicate asbestos schools and improve the state of learning and teaching in the province.
The housing backlog is over 1.2 million, yet the MEC boasts that a total of 41 981 new housing units have been provided and 42 685 stands have been provided to residents to build their own homes. The Department of Human Settlements has been allocated R5.8 billion, yet they continue to underspend and fail to complete housing projects.
Our roads in this province are in terrible condition and only a few roads in this province have been maintained. The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has been allocated a total of R9.4 billion. We will be closely monitoring how this department spends its maintenance budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
e-Tolls remain a controversial issue, and the MEC has confirmed that financial institutions have been approached to raise the money that is required to pay for Gauteng’s portion of the e-Toll debt. However, no plan has been tabled on how exactly this loan, if granted, will be repaid. The DA maintains that Gauteng should not be responsible for paying this e-Toll debt as it is a national road and not a provincial road.
Perhaps the most concerning revelation concerning e-Tolls is the fact that R2.3 billion would have to be borrowed per annum in the medium term, and this causes the provincial deficit for the current financial year to amount to R4.3 billion. The continuous deficits during the budgeting process in Gauteng are burning through cash reserves in the province quicker than they can be replenished, which is naturally threatening the health of the provincial fiscus.
The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure has received R3.2 billion. This department is one of the key drivers of employment opportunities in our province; however, the service providers that are appointed constantly fail to deliver projects on time and within budget.
Health facilities, particularly those in our townships, often have to work with limited resources. For the 2024/2025 financial year, a total of R64.8 billion has been allocated to this department.
The continuous under-expenditure by departments remains a problem in Gauteng. This points to a lack of proper planning and management. The only ones who suffer are the residents of Gauteng.
A DA government will clamp down on under-expenditure by departments and ensure that for every rand spent, there is value for money. If the DA is voted into power on 29 May, we will introduce a rescue budget that would secure a better future for the residents of Gauteng.