The Western Cape budget for the 2022/23 financial year delivered today by provincial Minister for Finance and Economic Opportunities, David Maynier, will capacitate the provincial government in pushing forward to see true recovery and growth for residents. The job obsession of the Western Cape Government announced by the Premier in his State of the Province Address last month, will become a reality through the allocation of R19.6 billion over the next three years on various programmes and initiatives aimed at creating an economic ecosystem which will see support to all sectors. More than this, the R30.3 billion set aside for infrastructure development is an investment in the economic and social well-being of all residents in the Western Cape.
MPP Deidré Baartman says: “Infrastructure development not only creates job opportunities but it also creates the platform from which our businesses can launch themselves and grow their operations having the knock on effect of creating more jobs and economic growth. But the R870 million over the next three years which will be spent on road infrastructure is just the tip of the iceberg. Excitingly, R1.2 billion has been allocated over the medium term to upgrade and build new healthcare facilities and schools in our province.
In particular, the decision by the provincial government to open up the tender process which means that the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works will not be the only implementer of infrastructure projects in the Western Cape. This will encourage and ensure the quality and standard of service which will be provided to the residents of the Western Cape.
And while we are seeing great innovation and responsible fiscal management by the provincial government, in real terms provincial budgets will not be increasing and every cent will need to be stretched to continue to deliver the best possible services to residents.
As members of the provincial parliament, we look forward to deliberating, in detail, the budget for the new financial year to ensure economic growth and recovery for the Western Cape.”