Opposition political parties have mixed reaction to WC's R270bn budget
The bulk of this budget will be spent on education and health, with an allocation of R100 billion for each department.
Western Cape Minister of Finance Deidré Baartman tabled the Western Cape Government Adjustments Appropriation Bill [B 2–2024] and Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement during a Sitting of the House on 26 November 2024. Picture: @WCProvParl/X
CAPE TOWN - The Western Cape's budget has been met with mixed reactions from opposition political parties.
On Tuesday, provincial Finance MEC Deidre Baartman retabled an almost R270 billion budget for the province for the next three years.
The bulk of this budget will be spent on education and health, with an allocation of R100 billion for each department.
Just over R6 billion will go towards housing, and more than R8 billion will be spent on social protection.
The African National Congress (ANC)'s Nomi Nkondlo said it was unfortunate that the Democratic Alliance (DA) had tabled the same budget, despite concerns raised by opposition parties when the initial budget was tabled in March.
"The Western Cape continues to record highest in crime and murder rate in the country. We also are affected by teacher cuts, which are causing overcrowding and the quality of education deteriorating in poor schools. The healthcare system that is collapsing in hospitals which are understaffed and the healthcare sector that is not recovering the loss of the USAID fund."
However, the Patriotic Alliance (PA)'s Basil Petrus said the party welcomed the budget.
"The PA welcomes the decision that there will be no VAT hike. We support the allocations on infrastructure development to create jobs and economic opportunities. The Patriotic Alliance will monitor the spending of funds on education, health, law enforcement and social development that needs more intervention. We hope that our communities who need it the most will benefit out of the budget."