The MEC for Finance, Ms Ina Cronjé today started her engagements with various stakeholders and communities in a roadmap leading to this year's budget presentation.
Ms Cronjé will deliver her budget speech in the Provincial Legislature on 22 June 2009. Her budget presentation will talk to some of the issues raised by stakeholders during the pre-budget roadshow.
In her first pre-budget roadshow, MEC Cronjé interacted with various sectors of the community starting with a breakfast briefing with local business, municipalities and residents of Uthukela District (Ladysmith and Bergville)
"It has been a great experience to be able to talk to all stakeholders represented here and to hear your views on what you would like this government to do for your," said Ms Cronjé.
She emphasised government's priorities in areas of rural development, fighting crime and improving education, health and social services.
"These priority areas are of great importance if we are going to move closer to our vision of a prosperous province," she said.
Ms Cronjé also shared her plans for the Provincial Treasury's focus areas, with an emphasis on spending the province's financial resources wisely.
"The area of municipal finances will receive special attention with all government programs in place to assist where help is needed," said Ms Cronjé.
She said the Provincial Treasury is on hand to assist and capacitate municipalities who are unable to meet their financial commitments through such programs as the Municipal Support programme.
"Local government is the first point of contact between government and the people in terms of service delivery, and we therefore are going to continue in our endeavours to make sure that this level of government is a success," she said.
Ms Cronjé also outlined targets for the Provincial Treasury which includes zero tolerance on corruption, no overspending and wise spending of public finances. She also challenged communities to revive the agriculture sector in the district, which has declined drastically over the past years.
Ms Cronjé said the Provincial Government has prioritised agriculture and tourism among other sectors, in a drive the create employment. Ms Cronjé also said small business is also the backbone of many economies especially in terms of job creation.
For more information, contact:
Zodumo Mbuli
Cell: 071 603 8197
Issued by: Department of Finance, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
12 June 2009
