The KwaZulu-Natal departments of education, health and social development have been allocated the lion’s share of the provincial budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers presented the provincial government budget for the 2024/2025 financial year. This was at the KZN Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday. He announced that the bulk of the provincial budget is allocated to the social sector departments. These received 80% of the provincial budget. The balance of 20% went towards funding all the other votes.
“Education receives between R4.1-billion and R4.4-billion per annum over the MTEF [Medium-Term Expenditure Framework]. Health receives between R2.6-billion and R2.8-billion per annum over the MTEF. Social development receives between R134-million and R144-million per annum over the MTEF,” Rodgers said.
Conditional grant allocation increase
Rodgers said the conditional grant allocation has increased by R501.3-million in 2024/25. It has reduced by R989.3-million in 2025/26 and R593.5-million in 2026/27.
The budget allocated towards Ilima/Letsema Projects has been cut by R24.7 million in 2024/25. The project is under the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
The MEC said the cut is due to National Treasury reprioritising the funds towards the Presidential Employment Stimulus.
In aggregate, Rodgers said the province receives R141.4-million. This is received through two Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) conditional grants. And they are aimed at increasing job creation in the province.
The EPWP Integrated Grant and the Social Sector EPWP Incentive Grant for Provinces have been reduced in 2024/25. This is due to National Treasury reprioritising these funds towards the Presidential Employment Stimulus.
He said these grants were cut by R42-million and R29-million, respectively, against various Votes.
Education Infrastructure Grant
The MEC said the Education Infrastructure Grant has increased by R58.1-million in 2024/25.
Rodgers noted that the grant is incentive based. And the increase is partly due to the incentive allocation. This is where the department scored well, achieving 98% in terms of submitting planning documentation. Also by showing capacity to spend, and thus received an incentive allocation of R89-million.
“The National School Nutrition Programme grant receives an increase of R19-million in 2024/25. This is for them to continue with the provision of nutritious meals. The budget for 2024/25 after the increase is R2.2 billion,” the MEC said.
The budget for the Health Facility Re-talisation Grant has also increased by R31.1-million in 2024/25.
Rodgers said the addition to the grant is due to incentive based and the department’s score at 99%. This in terms of submitting planning documentation and showing capacity to pend. It was allocated R72.9-million. The budget for Health Facility Revitalisation Grant is R1.5-billion in 2024/25.
Significant increase for Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant
The Provincial Roads Maintenance Grant has also seen a significant increase of R691.8-million in 2024/25. This was for the maintenance and rehabilitation of the provincial road network. As well as repairs to infrastructure damaged by floods.
“The budget for this grant is R3.2-billion after this increase. It shows our commitment to improving the provincial road network,” Rodgers said.
The Human Settlements Development Grant has decreased significantly by R268.7-million in 2024/25. This is to boost provision of funds to the social sector for the 2023 wage agreement carry-through costs.
“The budget for this grant in 2024/25 is R2.5-billion after the budget cut. The Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership grant also had a large budget cut of R228.6-million in 2024/25. This was in line with National Treasury’s decision to source funds through reprioritisation. To also provide funds to the social sector for the 2023 wage agreement carry-through costs.
“This budget cut is carried through over the MTEF and the budget for 2024/25. After the budget cut, is R597.1-million,” Rodgers said.
Sport, Arts and Culture
The Provincial Treasury receives R7.7-million over the MTEF (R2.6-million per annum). This is towards the costs of upgrading the Biometrics Access Control System to strengthen its security and ransomware features. While Sport, Arts and Culture was allocated R4.1-million. The fund is for the construction of a monument in honour of the 1860 arrival of the Indian indentured labourers.
“Transport requested that R3-million be suspended from their Vote in 2024/25. This is for allocation to Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. It relates to sourcing an airport emergency fire and rescue vehicle for the Margate Airport.
“This relates to the ongoing collaboration between these two departments. In order to ensure the successful operation of the provincial regional airports,” Rodgers said.
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