Gauteng Budget 2.0 Promises Better Budgeting and Service Delivery

The Gauteng Provincial Government says it is focusing on better spending, honest leadership and being open about how public finances will be utilised.

These promises were made by Finance and Economic Development MEC, Lebogang Maile, when he presented the province’s budget for the year 2025/26 at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Tuesday.

The new budget is R172.3 billion, which is R886.6 million more than what was planned earlier this year.

MEC Maile said he is worried that only four municipalities in Gauteng have proper budgets. The others are still not fully funded, which makes it hard for them to provide proper services to residents.

“We have said many times that municipalities must spend wisely and stick to their budgets if we want to grow the economy,” said Maile.

To help, the Gauteng Treasury is working with local municipalities to assess their budgets and make sure they can afford the services they promise to deliver.

He also mentioned that municipalities are checking if the money they charge for services like water and electricity actually covers the cost of providing those services.

The MEC spoke about problems in the supply chain management system, which is the way government buys goods and services. He said this system is very important for service delivery, but it has many issues, such as irregular spending, unfinished projects, court cases about tenders, and delays in paying service providers.

“These problems hurt service delivery, and late payments make it hard for small businesses to survive,” said Maile.

An assessment showed that there are not enough skilled workers to manage contracts and projects. To fix this, the government plans to hire the right people and place them where they are most needed.

Maile also said that the government is moving to digital systems to make the tender process faster and more transparent.

The province is working with the Gautrain Management Agency to use its advanced tender system.

“Our goal is to make sure that tenders are done electronically, and that we use modern technology to speed up the process,” he said.

He also promised that suppliers, especially small businesses and township businesses, will be paid on time. Government must pay all suppliers within 30 days, small businesses within 15 days, and township suppliers within 10 days.

“This is not just about fixing the system, it’s also about supporting the economy and helping communities grow,” said Maile.

Another plan is to create a price system that helps government know the correct cost of goods and services. This will stop suppliers from overcharging the government.

Maile said the aim is to stop corruption and make sure businesses trust the system.

“No business in Gauteng should have to pay bribes to get government work or to be paid. A business must know that once they get a Purchase Order, they will get paid without any trouble,” he said.