Maile briefed the media on the state of the finances of the Gauteng Provincial Government and the 2024/25 Provincial Audit Outcomes on Wednesday.
The MEC used the briefing to outline the Gauteng Provincial Government’s cash position, revenue performance, and expenditure, as well as discuss the complexities of managing provincial finances in the current economic and fiscal environment.
Maile says the e-toll debt payment is a huge financial strain.
“On Monday, we’re supposed to pay our first installment towards the e-tolls. Remember, the citizens have refused to pay, now the government has to pay. So we are going to spend about R20 billion, R12 billion on the actual debt, R4 billion on the interest, another R4 billion on the maintenance.
“So we’re paying the first installment on Monday, about R3 billion and that will put a huge strain and pressure on our provincial resources.
“The challenges in health, challenges in education, and the fact that about R15 billion of our budget has been cut is putting a huge strain as well.
“So we have a lot of pressure, but we’re working hard and doing a lot more to raise more resources so that we’re able to keep up with the challenges and the pressures that arise from time to time.”
WATCH: Etolls officially scrapped with sing and dance
E-tolls, managed by the South African National Agency (SANRAL), have been the subject of intense debate since the system went live in December 2013.
The system compelled motorists to pay to use certain highways around Gauteng, mainly in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
However, the controversial toll system was rejected by most motorists who refused to pay.
The commitment to scrap the e-tolls was eventually made last year, with the Gauteng government agreeing to pay 30% of the almost R43 billion debt and the National Treasury paying the remaining 70%.
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