The Limpopo government has continued allocating the biggest budgets to health and education. Over R20 billion was allocated to the health department while the education department will receive over R40 billion for the 2024/2025 financial year.
This was revealed during the tabling of the provincial budget by Treasury MEC Seaparo Sekoati in Polokwane on Tuesday.
With the Limpopo economy also affected by global economic performance, just over R83 billion has been allocated for development in the province.
Health and education will have the lion’s share of the budget. School infrastructure, National Health Insurance and the improvement of matric results are topping the province’s list of priorities.
“As part of providing social protection, the department of health receives the second largest allocation of the provincial budget after education at 29.7 %. The total allocation to the department is R24 billion in 2024/25, R25.769 billion in 25/26 and R27.443 billion in 26/27 financial years. The allocation consists of a combination of equitable share, conditional grant and provincial own revenue,” says Sekoati.
The Department of Health says it will direct a big chunk of its funds to hiring doctors and facilitating the implementation of the NHI.
“As we prepare for the National Health Insurance, we need to continue with our work of revitalisation in different institutions like Makweng and Petersburg hospitals. We want that work to continue to all our facilities so that NHI, so they are able to perform and be part of those that are participating,” says Limpopo MEC for Health Dr Phophi Ramathuba.
Political parties have also weighed in on the provincial budget speech.
“It has been some years government celebrating that we achieved matric results but forgetting teachers they are not giving them overtime, they are not giving them stipend, those teachers work from six to six but they don’t get paid for overtime,” says Tshilidzi Maraga, EFF Provincial leader.
“We are very convinced that our government will continue to give services to people. We are happy with the allocation for the building of the state theatre. We are happy about the allocation of R70 million to improve matric results,” says Reuben Madadzhe, ANC Provincial Secretary.
“We thoroughly disappointed in today’s speech, the MEC got excited telling us there is extra money available for health and education but those are actual just rollovers. There is no increase. These are monies already accounted for,” says Lindy Wilson, DA Provincial leader.
Nearly R2 billion has been allocated to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Agricuture is one of the pillars of Limpopo’s economy, contributing immensely to its economic growth.
Limpopo Budget Speech 2024:
