Durban — MEC for Finance in KwaZulu-Natal, Francois Rodgers, has vowed to put a lid on the wastage of taxpayers’ money on unplanned government activities as the provincial government embarks on tight cost-cutting measures.
Rodgers, leader of the DA in KZN, re-tabled the R150bn budget speech on Thursday in the provincial legislature and the Education department got the lion’s share of the budget with R62 billion.
The Health Department got the second biggest slice of the budget at R53 billion, while transport received R13 billion and the Economic Development and Environmental Affairs got R3.4 billion.
The Human Settlements department, led by MEC Siboniso Duma, also the Leader of Government Business, received R3.5bn.
The Department of Agriculture banked R2.6bn, and the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs got R1.7bn.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure got R1.8bn while R1.5bn was channelled to the Department of Sport, Art and Culture.
The Office of the Premier was handed R784 million, the Speaker’s Office received R782m, and the Treasury received R680m.
This mirrored the budget presented by former finance MEC Peggy Nkonyeni in March.
Rodgers, appointed as MEC by Premier Thami Ntuli last month, promised to closely monitor the use of funds in the provincial government.
“We can’t just spend money on things we didn’t plan for. We have to be careful about this. It will be my job to be a police officer who will monitor the use of money. I will make sure that the funds are not wasted. We have to be patient, we will soon get out of the situation we are in.”
Amid the rampant corruption in the public sector, Rodgers said heads must roll among government officials who were mired in corrupt activities.
“What I always say is that we have to build an efficient and reliable government. In order for the government to work, there must be policies that must be followed by everyone. Since there are policies that govern the use of government funds, we must make sure that these policies are followed.
“As a new government, we have to do things differently. Under this government, we have to make sure that the policies are followed. We must make sure that action is taken against those who break the rules. We should not pamper people who break the rules. I will be the first to take action against those who break the law.”
Rodgers said the government would intensify its efforts to boost profit-generating public companies such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Sharks Board, Liquor Board, and Gaming and Betting Board.
He said there was negotiation to place such departments under his department.
“Those negotiations have not yet been concluded,” he said.
Rodgers said that the burden on the citizens would ease slightly as the outlook of the province painted a positive picture.
“Economic performance in KZN is expected to regain momentum this year and reach 1.5% in 2025 as the structural constraints gradually dissipate.
“At this growth rate, the provincial economy cannot create enough employment opportunities to reduce unemployment. Honourable members, we must work tirelessly to continue the rehabilitation phase of our provincial economy.”
However, he cautioned: “There is no miracle or overnight cure for the diagnosis/position we find ourselves in, however, this administration has already begun to take the necessary tough decisions to turn the tide.”
He said the continued consistent supply of electricity would prop up the ailing economy.
“The country’s economy is expected to grow slowly by 0.9%. This is better than the 0.7% growth we saw in 2023. In 2025, it is expected that the economy will grow better, by 1.2%.”
He added: “We expect that the amount paid by debtors will decrease towards the end of the year as the economic situation is getting better, this can be seen in the prices of food and petrol. And in KwaZulu-Natal we expect the economy to grow better, we expect it to grow by 1.5% in 2025.”
The budget that was aimed at supporting emerging black farmers, the Ilima/Letsema Projects Grant, has been reduced by R24m.
Opposition parties in the provincial legislature reacted with doubt to Rodgers’s budget speech.
uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) MPL, Bongumusa Mkhize, said that the budget cuts will cause instability in KwaZulu-Natal.
“The cuts that he announced will cause instability in the province,” said Mkhize.
EFF MPL and provincial leader, Mongezi Twala, said that the Department of Human Settlements has lagged in providing houses, adding that they did not expect the department’s allocation to be reduced in this way.
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