MEC for Finance Jacob Mamabolo today outlined key priorities of the Gauteng Provincial Treasury (GPT), saying the department will use its R818 million budget for the 2023/24 financial year to improve the management of public funds, expand service delivery to the people and facilitate the growth of the provincial economy.
“We will use these resources to amongst other things, ensure effective and efficient financial management in the province, drive radical economic transformation, increase compliance with legislative prescripts, improve local government finances and raise alternative sources of funding”, explained MEC Mamabolo during the media briefing following the presentation of Provincial Treasury’s Budget Vote to the Legislature.
MEC Mamabolo also said that the Provincial Treasury aims use available financial instruments to grow the Gauteng economy. “Gauteng has been consistently contributing 35% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for a significant period of time. Our view is that we must do more to increase Gauteng’s share of the country’s GDP, and further strengthen our role as the engine of economic growth in South Africa,” he said.
“We are currently engaging various stakeholders in this regard and developing partnerships to explore best ways to harness Gauteng’s fiscal instruments to increase the province’s contribution to the country’s GDP to more than 35%,” he said.
As part of efforts to improve clean audits, the Provincial Treasury will enhance oversight and support role to address findings that lead to regression in audit outcomes and improve on accountability and governance matters.
“We must vigorously implement measures to address practices that lead to the province incurring irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” the MEC said.
Payment to suppliers is a key priority
MEC Mamabolo said payment of suppliers within 30 days remains a priority for the province in line with the legislative requirements. “Our data indicates that, with the exception of the Department of Health, all departments pay their suppliers within 30 days,” he said.
“We have issued a directive which is being strictly enforced that all supplier invoices must be submitted through the Electronic Invoices Submission (EIS) processing and payment. This is an internet-based supplier portal which allows suppliers to upload invoices and to track invoice statuses. (Paid, rejected or in progress and at what stage),” he said.
The MEC said as part of efforts to drive supplier payment in the province, Provincial Treasury has successfully established the Disputed Invoice mechanism as instructed by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during the State of the Provincial Address in February 2023.
“The first disputed email received was on 09th March 2023 with an additional three (3) emails with four (4) invoices for payment following thereafter. Of the escalated invoices, three (3) were resolved with payments confirmed with the service providers in question,” he said.
“We call on service providers who might be having disputes with departments about their invoices to contact us through the email address: disputedinvoices@gauteng.gov.za so that they can be assisted,” MEC Mamabolo added.
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