KZN budget hands Education, Health biggest slice
The Departments of Education and
Health received the highest allocations in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial budget.
On Tuesday morning, Finance MEC Francois Rodgers tabled the province's R158 billion budget for the coming financial year at the KZN legislature in Pietermaritzburg.
The MEC admitted that drawing up a budget was a struggle due to the province's limited financial resources.
Priority has been given to critical service delivery departments.
Education's portion of the budget has increased by R3.7 billion year-on-year, which takes it to R66.7 billion.
"Education receives funds towards addressing budget pressures that have been evident since the commencement of the fiscal consolidation budget costs," Rodgers told MPLs.
READ: KZN Budget: Water issues 'must be prioritised'
"And the department also receives funds for the 25-wage agreement gap, as well as the Provincial Youth Employment Initiative.
"The funds for the employment initiative will be used to employ 10,322 educator assistants in the 2025/26 year on a 12-month contract."
This while the Department of Health will be given R2.4 billion more than the previous financial year, for a total of R56.2 billion.
"Health receives funding towards addressing the budget pressures that have been evident since the commencement of the fiscal consolidation. The department also receives funds for the 25-wage agreement gap,” the MEC said.
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