The Mpumalanga MEC for Finance, Economic Development and Tourism, Ms Nompumelelo Hlophe, was merely paying lip service in her Budget Speech for the 2024/25 financial year when promising to curb corruption.
It cannot be executed due to the ANC government’s failed policy directions; especially Affirmative Action (AA). The ANC is utterly unable to curb corruption and mismanagement in the province.
Financial pressure will compel government to reconsider certain allocations from the total budget of R61,1 billion.
Too much money is still squandered on senseless and incomplete projects, such as the Mpumalanga international fresh produce market which has been dragging on for years.
A large portion of the budget is allocated to the Department of Health (R18,6 billion). However, this Department could not manage to stock enough medicine, appoint enough medical staff, or provide proper healthcare services with its previous budgetary allocation.
It is not so much a matter of insufficient funds as the misappropriation of those funds. The FF Plus will keep a close eye on this Department to prevent the squandering of any more money.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture was allocated a whopping R652,4 million even though it is severely mismanaged with hundreds of millions in tax money being squandered on senseless projects, such as the incomplete performance centre and cultural hub.
More funds should have been allocated to economic necessities, such as infrastructure development, to facilitate economic growth, job creation by the private sector and the eradication of poverty.
The province needs to have proper service delivery, complete its current projects and, most importantly, start saving water.
Mpumalanga’s largest industries, namely forestry, mining and agriculture, are all thirsty activities.
Old mines, in particular, cause problems by polluting ground water.
So, Mpumalanga should conserve its water, and build additional dams and new water treatment plants.
Several local municipalities are struggling to supply water and things will only get worse.
As a province, Mpumalanga may have many challenges, but it also has abundant potential. The ruling ANC, however, lacks the political will to unlock this potential for the benefit of all its residents.
Mpumalanga deserves better than the ANC.
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