The newly appointed MEC for finance in KwaZulu-Natal, Francois Rodgers, has begun introducing cost-cutting measures by closing the leased office located on the ninth floor of the Marine Building in Durban.
The closure of the leased offices will save KwaZulu-Natal’s treasury an estimated R1-million annually, according to a statement that Rodgers released on Monday.
Service-delivery needs
He stated that the funds will support the department’s other important strategic service-delivery needs to the state.
Speaking about the duties assigned to him, Rodgers said that stabilising KwaZulu-Natal’s finances is his priority.
He will collaborate with the treasury and executive council members to make sure that prudent decisions are made to protect the province’s budget.
“During my consultation with my executive team in the department, I directed that business cannot continue as usual; we need to streamline operations,” Rodgers said.
“In this regard, I have decided to close the Durban office [which served as a secondary office], with an annual lease amount of R1 115 786.40, translating to a total value of just over R5 578 000 over five years that we will save.”
Guidelines in the ministerial handbook
The DA member of the legislature announced that his ministerial staff will follow the guidelines in the ministerial handbook and work out of the Pietermaritzburg office.
“My wish is to enhance the transparency of our decision-making in resource allocation and utilisation, and I am prepared to make tough decisions if we are to demonstrate that we mean business when we say we will stabilise the finances in the province with prudent fiscal management. As KZN treasury, we must lead by example.”
When newly appointed premier Thami Ntuli announced his provincial cabinet last week, Rodgers was named as the province’s finance minister.
He took over the position from the ANC’s Peggy Nkonyeni.
I am already impressed.. and this is firm time I hear if the man. Kudo s Man.