The Eastern Cape’s provincial budget for 2025/26, with specific reference to the mere R153 million earmarked for Community Safety, is unacceptable.
This amount falls far short in a province plagued by a crime crisis.
Nelson Mandela Bay, one of the Eastern Cape’s two metros, is considered one of the ten most dangerous metros in the world with an average murder rate of 2,5 per day. The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is of the opinion that the meagre allocation to Community Safety does not reflect the urgency of the matter.
As regards healthcare, merit should come before cadre deployment.
The R1 billion earmarked for appointing 1 510 doctors and nurses is welcomed – but those positions should be filled based on merit.
Local healthcare workers must enjoy preference. Cuban doctors should no longer be appointed seeing as many South African medical professionals are unemployed.
The province’s hospitals and clinics are in a terrible state, and the Freedom Front Plus demands urgent maintenance of these healthcare facilities.
The Freedom Front Plus considers the job creation promises, without plans, made by the Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, in his State of the Province Address to be no more than hollow words.
The entire budget offers no concrete strategies for sustainably creating job opportunities, despite the province’s high unemployment rate.
Other causes of concern include the inadequate funding for road infrastructure, education and disaster management.
The R5,9 billion earmarked for transport is definitely too little given the deteriorating state of roads; while the R295,5 million earmarked for disaster management is also too little to fund long-term solutions for natural disasters.
The Freedom Front Plus cannot support the budget as it does not address the needs of the people of the Eastern Cape.
Piet Mey
www.vfplus.org.za