• Tomorrow’s budget is a unique moment in the history of KZN politics.
• DA calls on MEC to address KZN’s triple financial challenge.
• DA has every faith in MEC Rodgers, who has already reduced KZN’s deficit by half since taking the helm.
Note to Editors: Please note Tim Brauteseth, MPL sound bite in English
As Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, prepares to present his 2025/25, the DA anticipates that he will address the long-standing triple financial challenge facing KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) which includes the allocation of a fair equitable share, adequate budget allocations for provincial government departments and entities and the dragon represented by Compensation of Employees (CoE).
Tomorrow’s budget presentation is a unique moment in the history of KZN politics. For only the second time since 1994, a budget will be tabled by a representative of a political party other than the ANC. As part of KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), MEC Rodgers will finally have the opportunity to literally put our province’s money where his mouth has been since June 2024.
Since taking the helm, MEC Rodgers has been fastidious in demanding that all provincial government departments and entities pursue a single- minded ethos of a capable and ethical state through responsible financial governance.
This has required tough decisions within the previously unfamiliar territory of spending not what is in the budget – but only what is in the bank. While the measures enforced by MEC Rodgers have resulted in KZN’s budget deficit being halved there is still much work to be done.
The DA in KZN will be watching closely to see whether the MEC can meet the following challenges;
• KZN’s equitable share from National Treasury: Our province is not getting its fair slice while the equitable share formula, set out in the Constitution, is a veritable actuarial Gordian Knot. Only time will tell whether MEC Rodgers has conquered the riddle that will lead to our province receiving its due
• Adequate budget allocations for provincial department and entities: Once KZN has its fair slice of the financial pie in the pantry, the MECs challenge will be how to allocate it to KZN’s beleaguered government departments and entities – while avoiding major cuts- so that they can begin the slow path to financial recovery. Many departments have heeded his call to tighten belts and there will be hopefully be some relief in sight and;
• Taming the dragon that is CoE: The MEC has already secured assurances that disastrous national wage agreements exceeding provincial budgetary estimates will be a spectre of the past. A sure and steady hand will be required to make sure that National Treasury promises are kept.
The DA in KZN has every faith that MEC Rodgers and team will find solutions to these pressing challenges. As part of our oversight pledge to KZN’s people we remain committed to closely monitoring developments as we work towards a better future for all our province’s residents.