MBOMBELA – A tightening of belts and cutting of costs wherever possible. That is the year ahead for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government.
Finance MEC Mr Sikhumbuzo Eric Kholwane presented the proposed budget for 2016/17 at the Ehlanzeni District Municipality today.
“We don’t have the luxury of money,” he said.
“These are tough times. Whatever money there is, it is never sufficient.”
Here are six things we learnt:
1. Three per cent has been reduced from each department’s proposed budget, and reallocated by provincial Treasury to special projects for its infrastructure delivery programme.
New early childhood development, youth and substance abuse centres, teacher training, tertiary study funding and sanitation facilities at all schools are on the cards.
2. To assist municipalities struggling to provide drinking water to their residents, R261 has been set aside for the Department of Human Settlements to “plug gaps”.
3. Innibos and the Mpumalanga Cultural Festival will enjoy the province’s support to the tune of R14,5 million this year.
4. The Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA) is not what it used to be. It is working.
R75 million will be added to its loan book in 2016/17 to support small and medium enterprises (SMMEs).
“If it was up to me in my capacity as MEC for economic development, I would have given them even more money to support SMMEs and co-operatives,” Kholwane said. “For consistent economic growth you need more SMMEs and co-operatives. When big companies modernise, you lose jobs. That is not the way to create jobs.”
5. As of April 1, no public entity will be allowed to advertise tenders in newspapers, but only in the tender bulletin. The same will go for all municipalities from July 1, the start of their financial year.
6. R80 million will be invested in the Fortune 40 Young Farmers Incubator Programme to revitalise the struggling agricultural sector.
