Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi says the Treasury’s austerity measures on national and provincial government departments will not affect his efforts to create jobs via the Nas’iSpani programme.
Lesufi said Gauteng’s financial books are looking healthy and that there will be no cost containment for what is already budgeted for.
If the Treasury has a problem with that, it can go fly a kite, according to the premier.
Lesufi was reacting to a cost-containment letter penned by Treasury director-general which, among other instructions, demands the provincial government to put breaks on hiring.
The Treasury instructs that recruitment of workers may only be considered if an employment offer has been made and if the post is too critical to remain vacant.
This would have a negative impact on Lesufi’s 6 000 jobs per month drive until July 2024. He told Sunday World Engage this week that such would not happen.
Lesufi added that he was forging ahead with recruiting unemployed young people in the province for various jobs such as solar panel installations.
“I run the province, I do not run the national purse. So, if the National Treasury is having challenges, let them sort out their challenges,” Lesufi said.
“We do not have challenges in Gauteng, and we will proceed with our Nas’iSpani and gallop at a faster pace.
“Over the weekend, the deputy president, addressing the rally of the [ANC] youth league, said Nas’iSpani should be duplicated in other provinces.
“So, we have our own finances and financially we are very strong as Gauteng. We cannot be punished for the mistakes of other people.
“If we have our finances, no one should impose decisions that will disrupt our planning.”
According to Lesufi, it was unacceptable for the National Treasury to employ austerity in the inner years, where allocations had already been made and government had made commitments.
If austerity is enforced on outer years, he charged, that was fine and good, and the mess of national government should not apply to provinces.
“If poor planning on their side led them to where they are, we cannot pay the price for that. And we have expressed that view openly.
“We are galloping with all our programmes regardless of what National Treasury is saying.”
Panyaza said the communiqué was done in a clumsy manner without consultation while everyone is expected to implement Treasury’s instructions.
This week, cabinet discussed the matter and came out saying the financial cliff South Africa finds itself in is a global problem.
Government spokesperson, Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said cabinet resolved that measures to address the shortfall must not impact service delivery.
“The minister of finance will shortly issue guidelines clarifying the unintended misunderstanding arising from the cost-containment letter issued on August 31,” Ntshaveni said.
For more on this and other issues get your copy of Sunday World this weekend and visit Sunday World News on YouTube for the full interview premiering on Sunday, 17 September 2023.
