The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has criticised the budget allocation for health saying it made no provision to pay off more than R4 billion owed to suppliers and fill staff vacancies.
The Gauteng Health budget increased by 3,7% from R64,7 billion to R67 billion.
DA Gauteng Health Spokesperson, Jack Bloom, says there is no extra money to fix crumbling hospitals.
He says the other challenge is the funding gap resulting from the withdrawal of US Pepfar fund.
“Premier Panyaza Lesufi should give priority to the health budget. He seems to ignore the need for radical change and top management, because this is the department that most misspends the available budget and has very poor outcomes for hospital patients who stand in long queues and wait a very long time for operations,” says Bloom.
#GPBudget2025 | The 2025 MTEF Budget is characterised by compulsory baseline reductions across all Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) departments & entities to accommodate the downward revision of the Provincial Equitable Share. #GrowingGautengTogether pic.twitter.com/gEM2xVdhcn
— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) March 18, 2025
Education
Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile says they have allocated R69 billion to education. He says the funds will go towards expanding access to quality basic education and early childhood development.
He says the allocated budget will increase to more than R200 billion in the next three years.
“In the 2025/2026 financial year, the Gauteng Department of Education receives R69,6 billion, and cumulatively R211,2 billion over the MTEF, to expand access to quality basic education and Early Childhood Development (ECD) and improve education outcomes for women, girls, youth, and persons with disabilities,” says Maile.
VIDEO| Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the budget was a balancing act:
#GPBudget2025 pic.twitter.com/vvBPWsv3uu
— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) March 18, 2025
Revenue
Maile has announced plans to regulate different sectors in the province to ensure compliance and payment of taxes. He says the provincial government hopes to generate its own revenue of under nine-billion rand this year.
According to the MEC, revenue will come from sources such as gambling licenses, liquor licenses, and vehicle licenses, among others.
“And that’s why in the speech we are talking about increasing our revenue generation because we believe that there are a lot of untapped areas. It’s interesting that you’re talking about the funeral industry and what they intend to do. But from where we are sitting, we want to regulate them because they’re not properly regulated, and we want them to pay to be licensed. They will also have those who are licensed and who are adhering and paying for their taxes because there’s a lot of resources that are not being collected,” he says.
VIDEO| The 2025 Gauteng Budget Speech:
