Gauteng budget increases by R4bn amid Covid-19 battle
Gauteng Finance MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has tabled a revised budget which allocates money for the province to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Nkomo-Ralehoko’s adjusted 2020/2021 budget increased by R4bn from the R142.4bn announced in March to R146.4bn..
She said National Treasury has not been able to come to the province rescue due to the limited resources at government’s disposal.
"This reprioritisation was made possible by, amongst others, the realisation of savings amid the national lockdown regulations, projects and events impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and delays in the filling of vacant posts.”
Funds were reprioritised by the province to ensure more money is available for health, education and social development amid the battle against Covid-19.
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“Health has reprioritised R2.1 billion to implement Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the human resources capacitation requirement and R786 million for Covid-19 infrastructure projects,” Nkomo-Ralehoko says.
"Education reprioritised R5.2 billion to comply with the national pre-conditions for the re-opening of schools and to support catch-up activities.
"Social Development reprioritised R257.6 million to procure PPE, upscale the food distribution programme and to provide shelters for the homeless during the national lockdown."
Nkomo-Ralehoko said R5.9 billion has been allocated to the Department of Health’s response to Covid-19.
This will allow for the refurbishing of facilities and build field hospitals, procure necessary medical equipment, ensure the provision of protective equipment, oxygen and testing kits and the hiring and remuneration of frontline health personnel.
"A total of R6.3 billion is allocated to the Gauteng Department of Education, of which R5.2 billion has been reprioritised internally and R1.2 billion is new money, aimed at Covid-19 resourcing requirements outlined by the sector, and which are a pre-condition to the resumption of schooling.
"An amount of R88.9 million has been allocated to the Gauteng Department of Social Development, to deal with aspects of the Covid-19 response that extend beyond their normal responsibilities, such as shelters for the homeless," she added.