MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL
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elivering the 2015 Budget recently, Minister of Finance
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Post-school education and training – R62 billion.
Nhlanhla Nene laid great emphasis on the challenges
As public sector managers it is our duty to ensure
that South Africa faces and that meeting these in a con-
that these allocations are spent as intended and in ac-
strained economic environment is challenging.
cordance with the Public Finance Management Act.
There has been progress in the past 20 years, but he reminded
Our citizens cannot afford to be deprived of a better
the nation that “people are living in shacks, there are schools
life because budgets are mismanaged or funds squan-
without sanitation, [and] there are patients without care. …”
dered on fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
“ There are still fault lines across our social landscape”, the Minister pointed out. He acknowledged that it had been a “challenging Budget to
We are entrusted with funds and should use them, not waste or fail to invest them, to fulfil our task of achieving a better life for all.
prepare, under difficult economic circumstances. The resources
The Minister was very clear on this matter, point-
at our disposal are limited. Our economic growth initiatives have
ing out that better value for money in public service
to be intensified.
delivery depends on rigorous financial management,
“Preparing a Budget under difficult circumstances is a reminder that our public services are many and varied, and that we rely on
effective systems and an unrelenting fight against corruption.
the efforts and good judgement of many thousands of public
We must remain mindful of, and remind ourselves of it
servants, teachers, health practitioners and law enforcement
that, in the words of Minister Nene, we are accountable
officers, every day.”
to citizens and taxpayers for ensuring value for money
The Minister said the budget was “constrained by the need to
in our stewardship of public resources.
consolidate public finances in the context of slower growth and rising debt. It was imperative to tackle economic constraints, improve growth, create work opportunities and expand economic participation.” Government faced a delicate balancing act: the country’s development path is affected by resources being constrained by the economic environment yet efforts at development seek to lift these by “strengthening public institutions, investing in infrastructure and our people, supporting innovation and making markets work better.” Against this backdrop, the 2015 budget was aimed at rebalancing fiscal policy to give greater impetus to invest, to support enterprise development, to promote agriculture and industry and make our cities engines of growth, said Minister Nene. As members of the Public Service what does the budget mean to us? We are the custodians of the money allocated to us to bring about change in the lives of South Africa’s citizens. The budget will be spent on the following:
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Basic Education – R203 billion.
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Local development and social infrastructure – R200 billion.
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Defence, public order and safety – R171 billion.
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Health – R157 billion.
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Social protection – R155 billion.
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Other items – R131 billion.
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General public services – R64 billion.
Acting Director-General Donald Liphoko.