30 March 2006
The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) will, as from 1 April 2006, have a
Provincial Treasury that will exist as a separate Department.
The establishment of a separate Provincial Treasury follows an announcement
last year by Gauteng Premier Mbhazima Shilowa that, in line with the trend
nationally, Gauteng will have a Provincial Treasury existing separately from
the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs (DFEA). Following the
separation, the DFEA will change its name to the Department of Economic
Development.
MEC Paul Mashatile will continue to be the political head of the Provincial
Treasury, the Department of Economic Development and the Gauteng Shared
Services Centre. A new head of Department for the Provincial Treasury will be
announced in due course.
The creation of a separate Provincial Treasury is expected to strength
financial management and budgeting within Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG)
while ensuring that more and focused attention is paid to interventions aimed
at facilitating economic growth, job creation and poverty eradication.
Through agencies such as the Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA), the
Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) and Blue IQ, the Department of Economic
Development will continue to play a visible role in ensuring that the Gauteng
economy grows at even higher rates.
This Department will also take a lead in the implementation of key GPG
programmes such as the Provincial Growth and Development Strategy, the Broad
Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Strategy, the development of
co-operatives and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
It will also continue its work of protecting consumers in Gauteng through
the Consumer Court and the Office of the Consumer Protector and will still be
responsible for regulating the liquor industry in Gauteng.
The Provincial Treasury on the other hand will focus on building the
necessary capacity to ensure effective financial management, budgeting and
planning across GPG departments. It will assist GPG departments in ensuring
that their budgeting and spending is in line with the GPG priorities.
In addition, the Provincial Treasury together with the Department of Local
Government will be assisting municipalities with the implementation of the
Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the general management of their
budgets. Treasury will also be responsible for all GPGâs current and future
Public Private Partnerships.
Enquiries:
Percy Mthimkhulu
Cell: 082 379 1913
Issued by: Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, Gauteng Provincial
Government
30 March 2006
