Gauteng opposition parties say budget cuts for some critical depts unnecessary

JOHANNESBURG - Opposition parties in Gauteng say budget cuts for some critical departments are unnecessary.

They commented after Gauteng MEC for Finance Jacob Mamabolo delivered the 2024/25 budget speech on Tuesday.

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The budget included cuts to several departments including Economic Development, Human Settlements, Social Development as well as Roads and Transport.

The latest census data shows that Gauteng is the country's most populated province with the highest number of homeless people.

However, the provincial government cut the Human Settlements budget by just over R154 million.

The Democratic Alliance Gauteng spokesperson on finance, Ruhan Robinson, said this would negatively affect the province's housing projects.

"The last one is in terms of crime, which the premier always highlights as the biggest issue facing Gauteng residents, and there we see the reduction of R380 million, close to R400 million, towards community safety in the province."

Other political parties slammed the provincial government for the massive R840 million cut on the Department of Infrastructure Development budget while Gauteng suffered from aging infrastructure.