The greater focus on health care, education and turning around local government in the Northern Cape budget for the 2022/23 financial year is welcomed.
However, only time will tell whether the endeavour to eradicate corruption on all levels of government in the province will come to fruition.
The increased allocation to the Department of Education is in line with the FF Plus’s recommendation that more must be done to ensure good quality education to enable children to reach their full potential.
The FF Plus, however, would also like to see the development and implementation of a strategy for school-leavers to complete a year of service, during which they can acquire the necessary skills and experience, to overcome youth unemployment.
The increased allocation to health care is another ray of hope. The Northern Cape is an expansive province and most residents are dependent on public health care.
Among other things, more clinics are needed to ensure that people in rural areas have access to essential medical treatment. In addition, many of the existing clinics are in a state of disrepair, so, residents have to incur great expenses to obtain medical treatment.
The reduction of the allocation to the Department of Agriculture makes no sense in light of the pressing problems faced by farmers in the province.
Adequate provision has not been made to offer disaster aid to farmers, who first had to endure serious droughts, then floods and now grasshopper plagues.
Agriculture contributes significantly to the Northern Cape’s economy and must be treated as a priority.
Most municipalities are unable to effectively perform their constitutional duty towards residents by providing proper service delivery.
The promise of improved financial oversight over municipalities is welcomed. Residents will, however, only experience a marked improvement in their circumstances if guilty municipal officials are duly prosecuted and cadres are replaced by competent officials.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Danie Coetzee on FF Plus
