ANC want to see change in lives of poor
The ANC Western Cape thanks our national government for allocating R45,55 billion - more than R2 billion up from the previous year - to the ungrateful and uncaring DA-run Western Cape provincial government.
The ANC expects of the DA to adhere to the priorities of the national government: decent work, education, health, fighting crime as well as rural development and land reform. At least R9,9 billion is conditional grants for specific purposes.
The ANC would like to see more money spent on Early Childhood Development where R28 million was taken away in the previous financial year because this provincial government could not build or refurbish enough classrooms and schools. We expect, amongst other things, that the DA will utilise the education budget to contract reputable bus companies to transport our vulnerable learners and not repeat a previous bad experience.
ANC Western Cape finance spokesperson Carol Beerwinkel says: "We want to see visible change in the lives of the poor, how they live, decent sanitation and jobs that are created where people live. Conditions for development and investment should be created in those areas and not only in city centres. This should be the start of a rollout of a marked eradication of the divisions between rich and poor.
"We want to see health facilities and hospitals where poor people are treated with dignity and that the attitude of staff will improve. The real spend should be reflected in the quality of life for the poor and not just resonate in figures like the 70% expenditure as the DA says.
"Safer schools programme should be implemented immediately in vulnerable areas where crime is rife. The ANC will interrogate the Western Cape provincial budget in detail. This is just an overview of some of the priorities the ANC wants to highlight."
The ANC says together we move the South Africa forward! The DA takes us and this province backwards!
Statement issued by Carol Beerwinkel, ANC Western Cape finance spokesperson, March 5 2014
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