Gauteng Budget 2016: 10 things you need to know
Gaunteng's Finance MEC, Barbara Creecy, tabled het budget speech in the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday.
Here are 10 things you need to know:
1. Creecy tabled a R103.4 billion provincial budget.
2. Gauteng will spend R41.6 billion over the next three years on provincial government infrastructure and will include roads, hospitals, clinics, schools and existing public property
3. Major infrastructure allocations include R 5.2 billion for Human Settlements, R3 billion for Education and R2.3 billion for Roads and Transport
4. Education and Health are main priorities of government. The Department of Education received the biggest allocation of the budget - R39.06 billion. The Department of Health received R37.4billion
5. An estimated R10 billion will be invested through public partnerships in the City Region to develop infrastructure and grow the manufacturing sector.
6. The Gauteng government will intensify and be innovative in efforts to improve revenue collection. Money collected through motor license fees, patient fees, gambling taxes and interest on investments plays an important role in the funding of key priorities.
7. Creecy believed the provincial government can save more than R400 million by cutting activities that are not absolutely necessary. This includes less spending on catering, travel and accommodation.
8. The Department of Social Development has been allocated R1.3 billion to drive economic development. This includes R195 million set aside to enhance local economic activity by establishing and refurbishing existing industrial zones.
9. Creecy confirmed that of Gauteng's 13.2 million residents, 2 million were unemployed
10. 70 percent of Gauteng's population is below the age of 40 and Gauteng is the centre of urbanisation in the country