Latest news with #DeidreBaartman
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Opposition political parties have mixed reaction to WC's R270bn budget
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."
Eyewitness News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
WC Finance MEC hopes additional funds to education, health will help plug gaps
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Finance MEC Deidre Baartman says she hopes the additional funds allocated to provinces for education and health will help plug the gaps at both departments. During his budget speech two weeks ago, Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana announced additional funds for provinces to retain teachers, healthcare professionals and hire new staff. Earlier this year, more than 2,400 teaching posts were cut in the Western Cape because of a budget shortfall of R3.8 billion. Baartman re-tabled the Western Cape's 2025/26 budget on Tuesday, following the withdrawal of the national budget in March. She said education and health would receive R100 billion each from the province's R269 billion budget over the next three years. "It should be noted that Minister Godongwana announced additional funding for education and health in provinces. This funding will flow to provinces later in the year and does not form part of this budget. Once received, we will allocate the funding to the respective departments accordingly."
Eyewitness News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
WC Finance MEC says education and health are budget priorities over next 3 years
CAPE TOWN - Western Cape Finance MEC Deidre Baartman said most of the province's budget would be spent on education and health over the next three years. On Tuesday, Baartman retabled the province's spending plans for the next three financial years, following the withdrawal of the national budget in March. The MEC said the province would spend R215.8 billion on the social services sector over the next three years. This includes R101 billion for education, R100 billion for health, and just over R6 billion for housing.
