Education, health score big

Eastern Cape’s education and health programmes have been given a boost with finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo again allocating a lion’s share of the province’s R64.9-billion budget to the two departments.

Delivering his maiden budget speech in the Bhisho legislature yesterday, Somyo said that despite a more than 200000 decline in population figures, the provincial budget increased from R62.9-billion in the last financial year.

Of this year’s budget, R29.4-billion has been allocated to education while health will get R18.4-billion.

The two departments will receive R91.5-billion and R58.4-billion respectively over the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) which covers the next three financial years.

The scholar transport project, administered by the provincial department of transport and dogged by controversy in the past year, is set to get an allocation of R1.38-billion over the MTEF.

“R432.8-million has been set aside to transport 60000 qualifying learners to the nearest public schools and an amount of R1.38-billion has been set aside over the MTEF,” said Somyo.

Somyo said the government would work to improve hostels. This is provided for in a R1.832-billion allocation for educational infrastructure.

“This includes R120-million for four new hostels which would contribute to the improvement of quality learning, minimising the need for scholar transport and rationalisation and consolidation of smaller schools.”

“We have allocated R1.02-billion for the school nutrition programme to ensure that no child has to go to school hungry,” he said.

On the health front, Somyo said R3.7-billion would be allocated for “non-negotiable”, items including ambulances, over the next three years.

“Our focus and resources will be invested … in the reduction and treatment of TB and HIV and Aids for which an allocation of R1.57-billion is made.

“To support the comprehensive HIV and Aids programme, we are allocating R3.7-billion for non-negotiable items such as food, additional ambulances, blood, fuel, gas and oil.

“R1.22-billion allocated for medicines will go a long way to enhance the provision of medicines in our clinics and hospitals,” said Somyo.

Total allocations for this 2015-16 financial year are:

lEducation: R29.4-billion;

lHealth: R18.4-billion;

lRoads and public works: R4.25-billion;

lHuman settlements: R2.29-billion;

lSocial development: R2.23-billion;

lRural development and agrarian reform: R1.97-billion;

lTransport: R1.65-billion;

lEconomic development, environmental affairs and tourism: R1.18-billion;

lCo-operative governance and traditional affairs: R957- million;

lProvincial treasury: R738-million;

lOffice of the premier: R458-million; and

lProvincial legislature: R436-million.