Note to Editors: Please note Tim Brauteseth, MPL sound bite in English
The DA has sounded the alarm following KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Mid-Term Spending Review, with the warning that under-spending and inefficiencies across key provincial government departments are strangling service delivery, food security and job creation in the province.
While there are bright spots – such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s (EKZNW) progress on tourism infrastructure and Dube TradePort’s revenue growth – the overall picture is troubling. KZN’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is in crisis, with Agriculture having spent just 38.6% of its annual budget while Rural Development has only spent a shocking 8.5%.
Conditional grants meant to sustain farmers – Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CASP) and Ilima/Letsema – are virtually frozen, leaving irrigation pumps unrepaired and agri-hubs stalled. The Agri-business Development Agency (ADA) mirrors this failure, with critical projects delayed and farmers in Makhathini facing water disruptions and crop losses.
Other KZN entities show similar weaknesses. Delayed transfers by the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA) have slowed infrastructure projects, while Ithala SOC Limited required an emergency R178.9 million bailout. Vacant posts, delayed bursaries and stalled youth empowerment funds mean fewer jobs and missed opportunities.
As a partner within KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), the DA is not here to grandstand – we are here to fix our province. We therefore propose the following;
• Performance-linked appropriations
• Redirecting funds from chronic under-spenders to shovel-ready projects such as canal rehabilitation and borehole drilling
• Milestone-based grant management to ensure funds move when work moves, with full transparency through citizen scorecards
• Entities such as ADA and EKZNW must deliver quarterly compliance reports and frontline services and;
• Farmers’ water, rural roads and ranger staffing must take priority over prestige projects and discretionary travel.
Overspending on administration while communities lack basic services is indefensible. Every rand must translate into sustaining livelihoods: a repaired pump, a functional chalet, a trained graduate, a day’s work. That is fiscal prudence with a human face – the compact the DA offers KZN’s people. The DA will continue to fight for transparency, accountability and urgent action to turn budgets into real delivery.