MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal, Ina Cronjé starts the new year with a budget tour to Hluhluwe
In building up for the presentation of her provincial budget in March 2014, MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal, Ina Cronjé and the head of department, accompanied by the political leadership of Big 5 False Municipality met with local businesses and the community of Hluhluwe to discuss the direction to be taken by the provincial budget in a bid to steer the province to more economic development.
Explaining the purpose of the pre-budget roadshow, the head of department, Simiso Magagula, said that every year, the MEC for Finance tours many municipal areas to educate, communicate and seek input from the business sector and communities in general.
“For the business sector in particular, the budget presents various business opportunities and it makes it important for us to meet and talk to the business people about what the budget contains because that is where the opportunities are. We therefore want to encourage business people who do business with government to register in the provincial suppliers’ database and we have a campaign that ensures that government pays on time for services rendered”, he said.
Cronjé said that part of the focus of this provincial budget to be presented at the Provincial Legislature in March will be to continue to address infrastructural development of KwaZulu-Natal.
“Part of this is to focus on upgrading of rail network to provide rapid rail link and deal with bottle necks. A good example is the need for rapid rail service between Durban and Pietermaritzburg in order to ease congestion on the roads”, she said.
She said there are initiatives that Provincial Treasury has put in place such as encouraging government institutions to spend on budget, obtain clean audits, eliminate unnecessary costs and wastage, get value for money and do more with less as well as eliminate unauthorised and irregular expenditure.
Cronjé said these initiatives will continue and that they are part of good governance and they have ensured that KwaZulu-Natal is able to manage public funds very well.
Simon Mbatha, a local business man, said the budget discussion is a good opportunity for them to look at what business opportunities that could be available.
“As much as we still need business opportunities, but the crippling area for us is not being paid on time and we wish Treasury, through their Operation Pay On Time campaign, to look into those issues so that we can stay in business,” he said.
Other business concerns in Hluhluwe included a lack of taxi rank, and insufficient business opportunities for the local businesses.
Cronjé will tour other municipal areas until the day when she presents the provincial budget.
For more information, contact:
Musa Cebisa
Cell: 071 6878 777
Enquiries:
Mr Ntokozo Maphisa
Media Liaison Officer
Cell: 0827730937
Tel: 033 846 6986
Fax: 033 846 6801/2
E-mails: ntokozo.maphisa@kzntreasury.gov.za / ntokozo.maphisa@yahoo.com / ntokozo.maphisa@gmail.com
