Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng supported the second adjustment budget for the 2022/2023 financial year in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) as most of the planned funding speaks to matters which we have long raised and seems like they are now getting the necessary attention.
We are not just giving a blanket approval as we still have some serious reservations, as far as the departments of Roads, Transport and Logistics and Human Settlements are concerned.
During the first adjustment budget for the 2022/23 financial year, the Department of Roads, Transport and Logistics had its infrastructure programme decreased by R337,1 million from R2,095 billion to R1,758 billion, ascribed to delays in the procurement of outsourced roads maintenance, poor performance by contractors and projects interdicted and terminated.
We noted that during the tabling of the second adjustment budget earlier in March this year, the same department further lost out on R97, 4 million received originally from the Public Transport Operations Grant.
We will use our oversight role to monitor spending and project management implementation in this department.
On the other hand, the Department of Human Settlements surrendered R200 million for the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG) to benefit other provinces that showed good performance in using this grant.
As much as we do support the overall adjustment, we remain concerned that the same department received a rollover amounting to R153 million for the payment of outstanding invoices and commitments to infrastructure relating to the 2021/22 financial year under the same grant.
The DA’s support for the adjustment will come with more hawk-like monitoring on improvements in spending and delivery.
We do support the adjustment budget with an understanding that these departments play a critical role in growing the economy, ensuring goods and services are transported on well-maintained roads and providing decent living standards to informal settlements in the province.
We reiterate that the DA will closely monitor the spending of the new budget for these departments for the 2023/2024 financial year. Maintaining our roads is of utter importance, and therefore there must be regular maintenance of our roads. In addition, our residents deserve to live in dignified housing after years to neglect by the ANC Government.