Picture: The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho/Facebook
By OBAKENG MAJE
The North West MEC for Finance, Motlalepula Rosho said the 2023/24 budget proposals set out the funding proposals for various service delivery programmes that will be executed as part of the 2023 (Medium Term Expenditure Framework) MTEF.
Rosho tabled the provincial government budget at the North West Provincial Legislature (NWPL) in Mahikeng on Tuesday.
“This budget embodies the accomplishments and pledges made since the commencement of our journey in 2019. When the current administration began its term in 2019, it inherited the administration with huge service delivery challenges, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Despite these challenges, the government continued to ensure sustained funding for key service delivery programmes. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the province revised the 2020/21 budget thrice, which was unprecedented,” she said.
Rosho further said, the budget had to be reprioritised to provide for socio-economic relief, increased public health spending and a vaccine rollout. She added that, this budget aims to showcase the government’s commitment towards funding service delivery programmes.
“It will also set a solid foundation for the next administration to sustain the execution of the programmes meant to eradicate the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality.
“We pledge to use public funds responsibly by reducing unnecessary spending, increasing efficiency and savings through the appropriate use of technology and economies of scale,” said Rosho.
She said the greatest contributor to the province’s economy in 2021 was the Bojanala Platinum District, which contributed R98.3 billion, which is a reduction from R106.7 billion in 2019. Rosho said, however, the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District was the lowest contributing region, which contributed R19.8 billion in 2021.
“The overall allocation for the province is R50.856 billion, R51.932 billion and R54.379 billion in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years respectively.
“The allocations to Departments and NWPL, included in the main allocations per year are increases in conditional grants of R742.197 million in 2023/24, R49.185 million in 2024/25 and R83.977 million in 2025/26,” she said.
According to Rosho, these increases are mainly attributed to Health, Education and Public Works & Roads. She said the NWPL receives an amount of R503 million.
“Included in this allocation is an additional R12.8 million of which R5.8 million is for improvement in conditions of service and R7 million for general budget pressures and revision for organisational structure.
“The Office of the Premier receives an amount of R482 million. The ICT transformation in the province has been allocated R119 million each year to enable connectivity across the province in most public institutions including schools, libraries, clinics and hospitals and upgrading of the government ICT systems,” she said.
Rosho said the provincial treasury receives an amount of R565 million to continue with the provision of technical support to municipalities, departments and public entities.
She said the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management is allocated R2.333 billion.
“The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs is allocated an amount of R659 million to effectively monitor, support and promote local government and institutions of traditional leadership through a cooperative governance system.
“The Department of Health receives an amount of R15.219 billion. The Department of Education is allocated a budget of R20.575 billion. The Department of Social Development is allocated R1.713 billion,” said Rosho.
She said the Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation receives R742 million, while the Department of Public Works and Roads receives R1.087 billion.
“The Department of Human Settlements is allocated R1.999 billion and the Department of Economic Development,
Environment, Conservation and Tourism receive an amount of R1.009 billion.
“The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is allocated an amount of R1.229 billion. The province has been experiencing high rainfalls resulting in floods in some parts of the province,” she said.
The Guardian 