Mahikeng-The North West Provincial Administration received additional R1.5 billion to meet the increasing developmental needs of the people of the province. This was announced by MEC for finance Paul Sebegoe during the tabling of the 2013 adjustment budget, the thrust of which aims at “increasing efficiency within government and obtaining better value for money.

He said the fiscal path to be traversed was significant to build a solid, sustainable economy for advancement of growth and development and stimulation of investor confidence and interest in the province.

Sebegoe announced that although the provincial budget was reduced by R301 million in line with Executive Council resolution, it will be adjusted upwards by R1.8 billion as per sources of funding resulting in a net increase of R1.5 billion. Of this, R222 million is from national adjustment allocations and R849 is derived from provincial own revenues. The R1.5 million adjustment increases the provincial main budget from R28 billion to just over R30 billion.

Sebegoe indicated that whilst the spending trend to date is still lower than the expected target of fifty percent, the 4, 24 percent increase is encouraging as compared to the same period last year. In support of service delivery, provincial departments have been urged to increase spending of their budgets and avoid huge under-expenditure.

“Mindful of the service delivery backlogs and huge demands in the province, we have in recent year’s rigorously explored measures to increase spending and to that effect we had in recent years taken bold, decisive and correct decisions,” said Sebegoe.

The adjustment allocations outlines the provincial government’s commitment to sustain and support key government priorities, increase budget spending and enforce fiscal discipline, support budget cuts and redirects funds to other spending programmes and avoid under-spending amongst others.

Provincial departments received additional allocations as follows:

• Office of the Premier received an additional R15 million. An amount of R20 million was availed to the Provincial Legislature, Sport, Arts and Culture was allocated an additional amount of R38 million. An amount of R110 million is recommended to cater for budget pressures of the Department of health.

• An additional R20 million was availed to Public Safety and Liaison whilst Economic Development, Environment, Conservation and Tourism budget increased from R486.1 million to R555.8 million. Department of Finance received R37 million. Adding to that, the overall budget of this department has been reduced from R464. 5 million to R411.7 million which is 11.4 per cent decrease as a result of transferring Information Technology unit to the Office of the Premier.

• Education budget has now increased from R11 321.4 billion to R11 523 billion. Local Government and Traditional Affairs got a R25 million shot in the arm for implementation of section 139(b) interventions and revenue enhancement in municipalities amongst other. Total budget of this department has been increased from R431 million to R612.5 million.

• To improve the status of the road network in the province and the anticipated project time, an amount of R35.6 million was allocated to Public Works, Roads and Transport. Social Development received an additional R15 million bringing the total budget of this department has slightly decreased from R1 082.1 billion to R1 060.4 billion. Agriculture and Rural Development received an extra R28 million.

• A further R24.8 million was added in to the budget of Human Settlements for land acquisition to erect habitable shelters for the North West community.

Sebegoe appreciated the role played by business, labour and civil society in the fight against corruption and reiterated commitment by the provincial administration to root out the scourge.

He further said the cost-containment measures that were put in place have significantly contributed towards reducing risks of wasteful and fruitless expenditure in the province. The measures, added Sebegoe, helped to curb excessive spending on items that are unrelated to service delivery have also contributed in the effective management of provincial budget.-TDN
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