Honourable Speaker,

We must begin by stating that the R110 billion budget allocation for Gauteng belongs to the people. It is not the ANC’s money, it is not Premier Makhura’s money or Honourable Creecy’s money – this money belongs to the people of Gauteng.

Therefore, the people of this province must find hope for a better tomorrow in the tabling of the budget. I do not believe that to be the case.

Can the people of Gauteng go on with their lives knowing that this money will end up in the pockets of crooked and corrupt tenderprenuers and politicians, who claim to be servants of the people but in fact are enemies of the people and progress?

This must be a budget for our people, a budget for growth and a budget for prosperity. The kind of growth and prosperity that sees homes being built and jobs being created. That is what the people of Gauteng want done with their money.

Due to the ANC’s mismanagement of the economy, SA has more than nine million people who are without work, of which six million, are mainly young and black. To paint an even bleaker picture, three million young South Africans under the age of 25 are Not in Education, Training or Employment (NEET).  Yes Speaker I’m referring to the “Lost Generation”, which is looking at this House and budget for hope.

Speaker, it seems that the more the budget grows the worse corruption and fund mismanagement get, without consequence. The consequences for stealing from the people should be harsh. Perhaps you won’t listen to me when I say it but this view has been articulated by you Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe, who said “There is no formula for dealing with corruption other than to arrest, prosecute and convict”.

Consequence management must be applied without fear or favour, especially in the tight economic climate the ANC has plunged us into. The protection of or turning a blind eye undermines the need to grow the economy and create jobs, most importantly it disregards the obligation that every Member of this House has to the people, province and Constitution.

The Gauteng Provincial Treasury Department received R712 634 000-00 for the 2017/18 financial year, a 6,79% increase from the previous year, an allocation that is to some extent still influenced by the reconfiguration process.

Budget allocations increases for all programmes except for Programme 2 – Sustainable Fiscal Resources Management, with a distinctive decline in sub programme 6 – Public Finance.

Speaker,

Fiscal consolidation is now more than ever of utmost importance, and I just need to refer you again to the Budget Management Practice guide note 1 for the 2017/18 financial year, which emphasizes the responsibility of effectively implementing the budget allocations and cost-efficiency measures.

Support of the Township Economy Revitalisation strategy has resulted in the realization of the target for procurement from township enterprises.

In the 2016/17 financial year the department struggled to spend on township suppliers in the Southern and Western development corridors. The targeted percentage spent could not be achieved owing to a low concentration of suppliers, and will the department now undertake to train 721 suppliers in the mentioned 2 corridors in the new financial year.

Of further concern is the phasing out of a number of targets under the Financial Governance programme, including targets aimed at ensuring that service providers – SMMEs from targeted groups, are registered and paid on time.

We further note the Auditor General’s report on the 2015/16 local government audit results, and that Gauteng was one of the provinces where 3 municipalities lost their clean audit status of the previous year.  It was only DA-governed Midvaal municipality that could hold onto its clean audit status. The report again called for leadership accountability and strong internal controls.

In terms of programme 5 – Municipal Financial Governance the department reported that there is a new financial project in the pipeline which aims to improve and promote sound financial governance, and management, also known as MSCOA. The implementation date for this project is 1 July 2017 and GPG must support all municipalities to ensure the successful implementation otherwise this can further impact on 2017/18 financial year audit performance.

Speaker,

Lastly, there is no question around the need to transform the economy so that more people are able to participate in and contribute to it. So we must therefore not allow the people of Gauteng to be under the impression that it will come under so –called radical economic transformation, which is nothing more than a ruse to cover the nefarious and shadowy acts of a criminal network in Saxonwold.

This province must stand up against those who loot and lie. Our work is to advance the aspirations of the residents of this province, but that responsibility becomes ever more difficult when money meant for the people goes elsewhere.

Tragically, that is happening at an alarming rate, the DA therefore cannot support this budget.