Political parties in the Bhisho legislature have called on government to cut spending on “non-core items” such as travelling, accommodation and bookings of conference and workshop venues.
They say such expenditure was unnecessary and detrimental to service delivery.
The parties also called on government to increase allocation for agricultural projects, small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), infrastructure development and scholar transport.
Political parties were revealing their budget wish-lists yesterday ahead of finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo’s budget speech to be tabled this morning.
Somyo will deliver his maiden budget speech since assuming office last year.
He took over from then MEC and now Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, who last year announced that 6% of Eastern Cape’s R62.9-billion budget would go towards infrastructure, while the bulk – a massive 65% – went to employees’ salaries.
DA MPL Bobby Stevenson yesterday said he expected Somyo to make “bold pronouncements” on clamping down on corruption and dealing with ever increasing staff salaries budget.
Stevenson said Somyo must announce “concrete steps to put province on a high road to honest, efficient and caring government.
“Unless Somyo tackles the issue of our bloated bureaucracy, which consumes 65% of budget, our province will continue to go backwards as far as service delivery is concerned.”
He said any increases in civil servant salaries beyond inflation, “poses a grave risk to province’s financial position”.
“We are hoping tourism funding will be improved so it can become more of a game changer for economic growth,” said Stevenson.
UDM MPL Max Mhlathi said his party would be watching closely to see if funding improved for scholar transport and rural roads.
He said government must apply strict measures on spending without value for money. “The question of curbing expenditure in travelling and holding of conferences must be high on his agenda.”
Mhlathi added that strict monitoring of scholar transport programme was necessary to prevent corruption.
EFF MPL Siyabulela Peter said he would like to see an increase in budget for SMMEs, agricultural programmes, scholar transport and health infrastructure.
Last year, the education department allocated R356-million to ferry about 56000 out of 94938 deserving pupils. It was a decrease from 2012-13 where R369-million to transport 55537 out of 102209 deserving pupils, was allocated.
COPE MPL Lievie Sharpley said if government decreased funding for scholar transport, “it will mean they are not serious about promoting education”.
ANC MPL and the legislature’s economic development portfolio committee chair Xola Pakati said he was expecting a budget that talked to economic development in both urban and rural areas.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business head Les Holbrook said he does not expect Somyo’s speech to be different from his predecessors.
However he also wished Somyo could increase allocation for investor incentives, SMMEs and agricultural projects. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho told to spend wisely
They say such expenditure was unnecessary and detrimental to service delivery.
The parties also called on government to increase allocation for agricultural projects, small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), infrastructure development and scholar transport.
Political parties were revealing their budget wish-lists yesterday ahead of finance MEC Sakhumzi Somyo’s budget speech to be tabled this morning.
Somyo will deliver his maiden budget speech since assuming office last year.
He took over from then MEC and now Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, who last year announced that 6% of Eastern Cape’s R62.9-billion budget would go towards infrastructure, while the bulk – a massive 65% – went to employees’ salaries.
DA MPL Bobby Stevenson yesterday said he expected Somyo to make “bold pronouncements” on clamping down on corruption and dealing with ever increasing staff salaries budget.
Stevenson said Somyo must announce “concrete steps to put province on a high road to honest, efficient and caring government.
“Unless Somyo tackles the issue of our bloated bureaucracy, which consumes 65% of budget, our province will continue to go backwards as far as service delivery is concerned.”
He said any increases in civil servant salaries beyond inflation, “poses a grave risk to province’s financial position”.
“We are hoping tourism funding will be improved so it can become more of a game changer for economic growth,” said Stevenson.
UDM MPL Max Mhlathi said his party would be watching closely to see if funding improved for scholar transport and rural roads.
He said government must apply strict measures on spending without value for money. “The question of curbing expenditure in travelling and holding of conferences must be high on his agenda.”
Mhlathi added that strict monitoring of scholar transport programme was necessary to prevent corruption.
EFF MPL Siyabulela Peter said he would like to see an increase in budget for SMMEs, agricultural programmes, scholar transport and health infrastructure.
Last year, the education department allocated R356-million to ferry about 56000 out of 94938 deserving pupils. It was a decrease from 2012-13 where R369-million to transport 55537 out of 102209 deserving pupils, was allocated.
COPE MPL Lievie Sharpley said if government decreased funding for scholar transport, “it will mean they are not serious about promoting education”.
ANC MPL and the legislature’s economic development portfolio committee chair Xola Pakati said he was expecting a budget that talked to economic development in both urban and rural areas.
Border-Kei Chamber of Business head Les Holbrook said he does not expect Somyo’s speech to be different from his predecessors.
However he also wished Somyo could increase allocation for investor incentives, SMMEs and agricultural projects. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos