Kasie MARCH 2016
Kasie News At Its Best
ISSUE 2
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Gauteng Gov to save R400 million T
HE Gauteng provincial government plans to save at least R400 million in the 2016/2017 nancial year, Gauteng Finance MEC Barbara Creecy said recently. In the previous year, the province managed to save R100 million on services such as catering, accommodation, advertising and travel, she said. “In order to accommodate cuts in the equitable share and prioritise spending on quality services for our people, we save money on non-core activities. Over the medium term, we will be saving just over R400 million through reducing budget from these non-core items,” she said. Creecy added that the province would implement further cost saving measures. A circular will issued by the provincial treasury tabling stringent cost-cutting measures on how to manage, among others, travel, accommodation and telecommunication contracts. The administration had already started cutting back on board member fees and consolidating a number of government entities to eliminate duplication, she said. “Economic Development MEC Mali Maile is currently leading a further review of provincial entities with the aim of identifying additional areas of cost savings,” Creecy said. Earlier on Tuesday Creecy announced that the province’s health, education and social development departments received a big chunk of Gauteng’s R103 billion budget, as the province allocated at least 78 percent to these portfolios for the 2016/2017 nancial year. She also added that as per Finance Minister P r a v i n G o r d h a n ’s a u s t e r i t y m e a s u r e s ,
Gauteng’s equitable share from the scus would be cut by R2,9 billion over the medium term. Creecy said, as she tabled Gauteng’s R103 billion for the 2016/2017 nancial year: “Expenditure is dependent on the availability of revenue and the level of borrowings government can afford. We understand slower economic growth means less revenue for collection, and by implication a decrease in what the national scus has available to transfer to the provinces.” “We are one with honourable [Finance] Minister’s aspirations to accelerate scal consolidation. Over the medium term, our equitable share will be cut by R2,9 billion, our contribution to Minister Gordhan’s R25 billion budget cut.” She said the province had set a revenue target of R5 billion for the present nancial year. The province’s own revenue totaled ve percent of the budget. The revenue is collected from vehicle licensing, gambling taxes, hospital patient fees and interest earned on treasury investments. “During the tabling of the adjustment budget, I announced that our own revenue base for 2015/16 would be R4,89 billion which is a signicant increase from R4,2 billion revenue target for 2014/2015.” “We continue to be aggressive in our revenue collection, by January this year, actual collection was at 91 percent and we remain condent that we will be collecting R5 billion on own revenue in 2016/2017.” Gauteng’s budget for the previous nancial year totaled R97 billion, meaning there was a six percent increase to R103,36 billion for the present nancial year.- www.enca.com
Pikitup workers ignore management threats S TRIKING Pikitup workers afliated to SA Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) on Monday ignored 'managements threats to dismiss them for failing to return to work and instead continued their work stoppage. The unprotected strike is the fourth since November 2015 in a series of clashes between management and employees over issues related to salary increments and demands for the dismissal of Pikitup boss Amanda Nair, whom they accuse of corruption. Last year Nair was cleared by the High Court of any wrongdoing related to the same matter. About 4,000 workers downed tools and embarked on a strike on Wednesday last week, when promised increments did not reect on their February salaries, and subsequent negotiations collapsed. Samwu's regional deputy secretary Paul
Tlhabang on Monday said their members had gathered at the union's headquarters in d o w n t o w n Johannesburg, trying to chart a way forward as they were scared of police. On Friday, there were clashes between Pikitup workers and police. At least one worker was injured after being struck by rubber bullets red by the police. The police also red teargas to disperse the striking workers. “What I can assure you with is that our members are not back to work. They are resolute and adamant not to return until all their demands which are well-known
are met,” Tlhabang said on Monday. As has become the norm, protesting Pikitup workers trashed the City of Johannesburg. They emptied dustbins onto the streets creating a smelly health hazard and an unsightly mess.
Pikitup said it had contracted a private company to clean the city and remove waste that has been piling up since last week. Tlhabang would not be drawn to comment about Friday's clashes with the police in the central business district. On Sunday, Pikitup said it had started issuing “pre-dismissal notices” to striking workers, because they had failed to heed a Thursday noon ultimatum and a call by their union's national ofce bearers to return to work while negotiations continued. Last year, eviction agency, the Red Ants, were roped in to clean the streets during a Pikitup strike, which at the time cost the company about R2-million a day. The costs included operational activities, additional security, as well as legal advice.-www.enca.com