Nie Cele
Finance MEC, Jacob Mamabolo recently tabled a mouth-watering and earth-shattering provincial budget at the Gauteng Legislature.
The indefatigable and painstaking MEC told a media packed lock-up session that his department managed finances of the province under difficult circumstances due to economic conditions plaguing the entire country.
Mamabolo highlighted, the budget amongst other things will cover almost all the priorities that were recently outlined by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during his recent State of the Province Address.
He also hinted this administration has managed to deliver the best audit outcomes.
PERUSE BELOW THE ONPOINT MEDIA STATEMENT
Gauteng’s R500 billion budget to expand public services, township economy and address the energy challenges
MEC of Finance Jacob Mamabolo today announced that the Gauteng Provincial Government will spend more than R500 billion over the next three years to boost economic activity in townships, fight crime, expand basic services to the public and address the energy crisis.
The MEC was presenting the provincial budget for 2024/25 financial year to the Legislature, the last one of the Sixth Administration.
He said: “The provincial budget for 2024/25 amounts to R165.8 billion. It will grow to R171 5 billion in 2025/26 and R176.8 billion in 2026/27”.
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“This budget strikes a balance between the fiscal constraints that continue to be a drag on resource allocation, and the protection of the social wage, while at the same time striving towards the Gauteng of our dreams,” he said.
The social cluster accounted for the largest share of the budget, with the Gauteng Department of Education receiving R65.8 billion in 2024/25 and a total of R205.9 billion over the 2024 MTEF.
The funds will be used to expand access, quality education, and skills development opportunities to empower individuals, enhance workforce readiness, and drive socio-economic progress.
MEC Mamabolo said a total of R64.8 billion in 2024/25 and R202.7 billion over the 2024 MTEF is allocated to Gauteng Department of Health to implement health and wellness interventions particularly in townships, informal settlements, and hostels.
“This budget includes a total of R14.2 billion allocated in the 2024/25 financial year and R43.4 billion over the 2024 MTEF towards, amongst others, broadening access to quality public healthcare, Primary Health Care re-engineering, extension of 24-hour services at Community Health Centres and reduction of radiation oncology backlog in facilities,” he said.
To strengthen the fight against crime, vandalism and lawlessness, the budget of Gauteng Department of Community Safety has increased to R2.3 billion in 2024/25 and R7.2 billion over the 2024 MTEF.
“These resources will be used bolster law enforcement capabilities such as the Crime Prevention Wardens, helicopters and drones to take crime fighting into the skies, Provincial Integrated Command Centre, community policing initiatives, fighting Gender-Based Violence and crimes against children through the GBV Response Plan, as well as crime prevention programmes aimed at fostering safer communities,” MEC Mamabolo said.
The MEC also provided R50 million in 2024/25 and R111.4 million over the 2024 MTEF to the Gauteng Department of e-Government for the installation CCTV cameras to monitor crime hotspots within the TISH areas.
An additional allocation of R10 million has been made available to rollout the e-Panic buttons in line with Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s commitments,” MEC Mamabolo.
Township entrepreneurial activity is key to fast-track the growth of the provincial economy.
That is why the MEC said: “In the 2024/25 financial year, we are giving R1.7 billion to the Gauteng Department of Economic Development, and R5.3 billion over the 2024 MTEF”.
These resources will be specifically used to address, amongst others, job creation initiatives as well as revitalising the landscape of our township economy including industrial parks, and transform Gauteng into a single, multi-tiered mega special economic zones to attract investment and tourism.
MEC Mamabolo also said the successful Nasi iSpani Mass Recruitment Programme will continue to facilitate access to job openings for the youth within departments and their entities and enhance service delivery.
“In the 2024/25 financial year, this will be done through initiatives such as the Green Army,Sawubona Mhlali and Civic Ambassadors, which have been funded by internal reprioritisation in respective departments,” he said.
Infrastructure service delivery
The building of public infrastructure is important to improve service delivery in communities, create jobs, boost local economic activities and skills development.
Over the next three years, the Gauteng Provincial Government will spend R37.2 billion on the delivery of public infrastructure. This entails building of new public infrastructure such as clinics, schools, roads and shelters or maintaining the existing assets.
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