R2bn savings boost for Cape budget
The provincial government says it has saved more than R2 billion, which it aims to pump into health and education.
Finance and Economic Development MEC Alan Winde, speaking before presenting his budget to the provincial legislature on Tuesday afternoon, said: “We have shifted away from spending on non-core service delivery items in favour of those that give us greater value for money.
“Through careful reprioritisation that has not affected the quantity or quality of our frontline services, such as health and education, we have managed to free up R2.1bn.”
The total provincial budget for 2010/11 is R33.2bn - 14.49 percent up from last year’s revised estimate.
The Health Department will get R38.3bn over the next three years, the largest share of the budget. It represents 36 percent of the total provincial expenditure.
Winde said more than 17 million patients were expected to visit the 450 primary health care facilities in the province in 2010/11.
The budget also makes provision for the Occupation Specific Dispensation (OSD) for doctors and associated professionals.
The Public Works and Transport Department gets R10.169bn over the next three years, with R3bn to be spent in the 2010/11 financial year on infrastructure, including schools, classrooms and hospitals.
The Education Department will get R38bn over the next three years, the second-largest share.
Winde said the provincial economy was expected to grow at a rate of 2.6 percent in 2010.
Source: IOL
admin @ March 3, 2010