ANC, EFF criticise Western Cape budget

Cape Town 150305. MEC for Local Government and Environmental affairs Ivan Meyer presenting his budget speech at the Provincial legislature. Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Argus

Cape Town 150305. MEC for Local Government and Environmental affairs Ivan Meyer presenting his budget speech at the Provincial legislature. Picture Cindy waxa.Reporter Argus

Published Mar 6, 2015

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Cape Town - Western Cape Finance MEC Ivan Meyer’s “pro-poor, pro-people and pro-investment” budget, in line with the National Development Plan, came in for heavy criticism and heckling from the opposition ANC and EFF.

Tabling the 2015/16 budget in the provincial Parliament on Thursday, Meyer said the bulk of the money would be used for health and education, with the lion’s share of R18.8 billion (36 percent) of the R52bn budget going to health. Education gets R17.7bn (34 percent).

And showing opposition critics that the provincial government was serious about the National Development Plan, Meyer dubbed his budget speech, “Implementing the NDP - a province at work”.

Transport and public works received R6.7bn while human settlements was given R2.1 bn. Social development got R1.8 bn, community safety received R234.5 million and cultural affairs and sport R706.5m.

Economic development and tourism got R518.8m while agriculture received R742.2m. Environmental affairs and development planning got R502.7m and local government got R200.3m.

The Department of the Premier received R1.3bn while the Provincial Parliament got R117.180m and Provincial Treasury R262m.

Meyer said the budget was in response to calls for jobs and improved service delivery.

He said key enablers such as energy, water, skills, infrastructure and reducing red tape, were critical to realising the potential for growth and job creation.

With this in mind, Meyer announced:

* R30.4m allocated to reduce red tape.

* R51.2m allocated during the 2015/16 financial year to address skills development.

* R2.4bn over the next three years to focus on the value chain of agricultural support and services.

* R57m over the next three years to be pumped into green economy initiatives, focusing on energy security, resource efficiency, better living models and leadership.

* R17.3bn to be invested over the next three years in education, health, environment, transport, and public works infrastructure projects.

* R40bn for school infrastructure over the 2015 Medium Term Economic Framework (three years), with 19 schools expected to be completed by March next year.

* R2.2bn over the medium term expenditure framework to make provision for health facilities and the refurbishment, upgrading and maintenance of existing facilities.

* Transport infrastructure investment of R8.9bn over three years to preserve surfaced roads, gravel roads and bridges.

* A further R7.1bn over the next three years for increasing housing opportunities and improving settlement functionality, efficiencies and resilience.

ANC MPL Carol Beerwinkel said the budget was a far cry from a pro-poor one. Beerwinkel was also concerned that Meyer’s focus was more on urban areas and that the rural poor would not benefit.

The EFF’s Nazier Paulsen also complained that the budget was not aimed at the poor, saying it would benefit only “rich DA supporters”.

THE ACDP’s Ferlon Christians was the only supportive opposition member, saying the DA made the most of the money it had.

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Cape Argus

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