Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe has tabled a budget adjustment aimed at helping realise the provincial government’s priorities.
The total provincial adjustments including additional funding, suspensions, surrenders and other adjustments amount to R3,3 billion, which increases the provincial expenditure from R55,3 billion to R58,5 billion in the 2009/10 financial year.
The adjusted budget will provide much needed resources to implement programmes aimed at creating decent work and building a growing inclusive economy, promoting quality education and skills development, providing better health care for all, stimulating rural development and food security, intensifying the fight against crime and corruption, building cohesive and sustainable communities and strengthening the developmental state and good governance.
The MEC expressed satisfaction that many provincial departments had responded positively to a directive to reprioritise programmes and free resources towards addressing the provincial priorities.
“We want to reiterate the fact that there is no knew money within the system, as a result the department are further urged to more prudent and cost effective in their planning and spending”, stressed the MEC.
However, Nkomfe said the provincial government remained concerned with the state of finance in Gauteng, saying an urgent meeting was planned with the departments of Health and Social Development, Infrastructure, Roads and Transport and Local Government Housing to speed up the reprioritisation process. No departments will be allowed to overspend or commit resources to programmes that are not priority. Departments were also urged to strictly apply prudential financial management. The measures include cutting unnecessary travelling and use of consultants and project managers. Departmental entertainment including end of year parties are prohibited unless funded by private sources.
The MEC announced that the reprioritisation and cost saving measures have so far freed resources to fund the following priority projects:
* Rural Safety project
In order to promote safety within rural communities, a Rural Safety project intended to implement an integrated strategic approach to improving safety in Gauteng is being implemented.
* Patroller programme
This programme is implemented in line with fighting crime in order to build a safe home for Gauteng residents. The programme has seen 4 020 patrollers recruited, trained and deployed within various high risk communities. This will strengthen the visibility of law enforcement personnel and thereby reduce the possibilities of crime. An amount of R24 million has been allocated for the implementation of this programme.
* Hlayiseka School Safety project
The purpose of the project is to create a safe and secure schooling environment. An initial allocation of R500 000 was made for the project in the current financial year. More funding for the project will be made available in the next year
* Bana Pele
The purpose of the project is mainly to provide social protection to children in order to alleviate poverty by providing school uniforms and food parcels to those in need. In the current financial year, the province targeted the provision of school uniforms to 83 000 learners.
* Masupatsela Pioneer programme
This programme is a pilot initiative that seeks to promote social cohesion to inculcate a culture of activism, promote patriotism amongst the youth and direct youth actions towards solidarity. The successful and optimal implementation of this programme will build a foundation for improving youth abilities through community service and learning opportunities.
* Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital
There is noticeable progress on the revitalisation and upgrading of the hospital to enhance the provision of quality tertiary health care services to ensure better health for all. In the current financial year, an amount exceeding R61 million has been invested for the acquisition of machinery and equipment as well as the facility’s upgrade.
* Zola hospital
This project entails the construction of a 300-bed district hospital in Jabulani, Soweto. The functioning of this hospital as a district hospital will support the referral chain system, provide district health services in Soweto and protect the levels two and three hospitals. An amount of R165 million is being expended towards the hospital construction, which, in turn, will reduce the patient load in Chris Hani Baragwanath and improve the lives of the surrounding and other communities.
* Germiston hospital
As a hospital revitalisation project, this project replaces the old Germiston hospital to improve and provide health care services to the communities. This project entails building and equipping a 300 bed hospital. An amount of R174 million is being expended in the current financial year.
* Natalspruit hospital
This entails the building and equipping of a 760-bed hospital. The project will utilise R388 million in the current year. The completion of this project will ensure that improved health care services are provided in a suitable site and in good conditions for the communities.
* FIFA 2010 World Cup
Through this project, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation co-ordinates facilitates and integrates all government efforts in Gauteng in preparation for the FIFA 2010 World Cup and ensures that the opportunity provided by the hosting of the FIFA 2010 World Cup accelerates the implementation of the strategic priorities, improves service delivery and contributes to economic growth.
* Gauteng clean and green project
The main objective of the project is to create mechanisms for collaborative and participative efforts to ensure that the province is clean and free of litter. It also promotes the planting of trees and prevention of illegal dumping. Aligned with the sustainable environment and natural resource management, this will also contribute to stimulating rural development and food security. This project entails cleaning campaigns, clearing of illegal dumping sites, as well as sorting and recycling of re-usable waste. These projects will be implemented as an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) to create more jobs in the province.
* “One Household, One Food Garden”
This programme contributes to the wellbeing of individuals and community members to the local economies of the communities and to the capacity building of the project beneficiaries. R11 million is expended to achieve food gardens. To date, 9 246 domestic food gardens have been delivered. The successful implementation of this project will reduce hunger and food insecurity at household level in the poverty stricken areas of the province.
* “Back to the land and work the land”
The Ilima/Letsema campaign runs under the theme “back to the land and work the land”. It promotes the unity of communities in an effort to produce food to reduce the effects of the prevailing food price crisis. This project will increase farm production and assist the small-scale farmers to start producing productively.
* Maize Triangle
The project entails development of the Emfuleni, Midvaal and Lesedi agriculture hubs within the Sedibeng area for concentrated maize production. This will also include the Kungwini agriculture hub for the growing of grains. In order to support and build capacity of farmers to be self-sufficient and to promote food security, the following key deliverables have been identified:
* provide 30 farmers with seed and fertiliser input for a 100 hectare farm
* provide two tractors with ploughs, ripper, and harrow disc per hub
* dedicated maize support services for the identified areas.
The project has a positive impact on the sustainability and profitability of farmers for contributing to food security, creation of jobs and growing the economy.
* Albertina Sisulu Corridor
The purpose of the project is to clean and green the main access road between Johannesburg (R24) and OR Tambo International Airport (R21). This project gives effect to the provincial priority of creating decent work and building a growing inclusive economy. The implementation of this project will ensure that there is skills development and creation of decent jobs within an EPWP context. The expected impact of this project will be an environmentally sensitive, sustainable road and transport infrastructure.
* Opening of additional driver licence testing centres (DLTC)
These centres will render motor vehicle licensing and related services, that is; learners’ drivers’, licences and motor vehicle registration services. This will contribute to the strengthening of the developmental state and good governance. In the current financial year, the urban transport fund financed the opening of two driver licence testing centres in Xavier and Three Rivers. A further amount of R1,5 million has been reprioritised for the opening and operation of another driver licence testing centres in Kliptown.
* Operation Clean Audit
Due to audit issues of the Gauteng municipalities, the Department of Local Government and Housing developed and commenced with the implementation of the Operation Clean Audit project. This project aims to provide hands-on and direct intervention in identified municipalities to ensure that all Gauteng municipalities achieve clean audits. An amount of R8,6 million is allocated in the current financial year towards intervening in six identified municipalities.
Issued by: Provincial Treasury, Gauteng Provincial Government
18 November 2009
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.gautengonline.gov.za/)
