social expenditure
21 November 2006
In an effort to achieve higher levels of economic growth, the Gauteng
Provincial Government and municipalities will spend over R50 billion on
infrastructure investment in the next five years.
This was announced by Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Affairs, Paul
Mashatile, when tabling the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to the
Legislature today.
The Medium Term Budget Policy Statement outlines government's priorities
over a three year period and allocates resources to fund these priorities.
Mashatile said investment in infrastructure was critical in stimulating
economic growth. "We believe this massive investment in infrastructure will
further stimulate economic growth, reduce unemployment, create new nodes of
economic activity and contribute to our overall objective of changing the lives
of our people for the better," he said.
He said while paying attention to funding infrastructure investment, the
Gauteng Provincial Government will not lose sight of the equally important need
to fund social services. "We wish to reiterate that social services such as
health, education, community safety and social development will remain
adequately funded over the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)," said
Mashatile.
Among the priorities that will be funded over the next three years are the
implementation of the Global City Region Perspective; the 20 priority townships
initiative; the 2010 integrated strategy and the human resources development
strategy. "We have allocated the additional resources at our disposal in a
manner that will ensure that we deliver on the promises we made to our people
in 2004," said Mashatile.
Other areas that will receive additional funding are initiatives to improve
financial management within Gauteng departments and in municipalities; the
improvement of health facilities; incentives for educators and Blue IQ's
Automotive Supplier Park.
Mashatile urged departments to spend the money allocated to them and to be
"intolerant to both over and under expenditure."
For more information contact:
Percy Mthimkhulu
Cell: 082 379 1913
Issued by: Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, Gauteng Provincial
Government
21 November 2006
