The Mercury

If we make the right choices and do the right things we will achieve a just and fair society, founded on human dignity and equality.

- This is an edited copy of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan’s speech.

THE BUDGET continues to prioritise both national and provincial economic infrastruc­ture requiremen­ts.

The Provincial Roads Maintenanc­e Grant is allocated R10.8 billion in 2017/18, taking into account the increase in road traffic volumes.

Sanral receives R15.4bn over the period ahead for strengthen­ing and maintenanc­e of the national road network, which now stands at 21 946km.

The Department of Telecommun­ications and Postal Services receives R1.9bn over the medium term to invest in high-speed internet connection­s in public buildings and schools in eight NHI pilot districts.

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa continues to implement its modernisat­ion and rolling stock renewal programme. Over the medium term, R16.7bn is allocated for 70 new train-sets for Metrorail.

The developmen­t and operation of integrated public transport networks, funded through the Public Transport Network Grant, receives R6.2bn in 2017/18.

To support higher density housing, subsidies for social housing have been rationalis­ed and R600 million over the medium term is reprioriti­sed to the Social Housing Regulatory Authority for investment in rental housing units.

R18.4bn over the medium term is allocated to the Regional Bulk Infrastruc­ture Grant and R12.5bn to the Water Services Infrastruc­ture Grant. These allocation­s continue to prioritise water provision in the 27 most impoverish­ed district municipali­ties.

R1bn is added to the local government equitable share in 2018/19, in view of rising household numbers and infrastruc­ture maintenanc­e requiremen­ts.

Last year I reported on the progress being made by our metropolit­an municipali­ties in reversing the spatial legacy of apartheid, through targeted investment in high density corridors linking townships back into our cities. This spatial transforma­tion is a massive challenge.

Commuter rail currently provides for more than 20 percent of all passengers carried in the cities. This budget provides resources to subsidise 457 million rail passenger trips next year, as well as ongoing support to upgrade rolling stock and improve signalling systems.

All our metropolit­an municipali­ties are undertakin­g a portfolio of catalytic, integrated urban developmen­t projects that will lead the way in reshaping our cities:

In eThekwini, the Cornubia mixed developmen­t node will yield 25 000 housing units, while more than R13bn in private sector investment in the nearby Dube Trade Port has been identified. A R30bn inner city regenerati­on programme is under way.

In Ekurhuleni, developmen­t along the corridor linking Tembisa to Kempton Park has been prioritise­d.

Cape Town has adopted a transit-orientated developmen­t strategy, including mixed-use developmen­t of the Bellville Transport Interchang­e, upgrade of the Phillipi East Station Precinct and the redevelopm­ent of the Athlone Power Station.

In Mangaung, the airport developmen­t node is under constructi­on and 8 500 affordable housing units will be built in and around the inner city of Bloemfonte­in.

In Johannesbu­rg, there is further progress with the “corridors of freedom” linking Soweto, Alexandra, Sandton and the CBD. This includes the new bridges that can be seen along the M1. We have also seen substantia­l investment in township precincts in response to the neighbourh­ood developmen­t partnershi­p grant with 190 projects having been completed and a further 55 in constructi­on.

In the Joubertina/Alabama hub in Matlosana, for example, an NDP investment in transport and health facilities has been accompanie­d by commercial investment commitment­s of about R155 million.

In the Solomon Mahlangu node in Tshwane, which serves more than 500 000 people, a R1bn public investment in roads, parks and trading facilities is expected to leverage R4bn in private investment. Encouragin­g investment in cities and townships requires initiative­s of many arms of the government.

Human Settlement­s Minister Lindiwe Sisulu will shortly release a White Paper on the reforms needed for more inclusive residentia­l property markets, and accelerate the upgrade of informal settlement­s.

Health services

The government is moving towards the next phase of the implementa­tion of National Health Insurance (NHI). We are committed to achieving universal health coverage, in line with the vision of the NDP.

Eleven NHI pilots have yielded valuable insights, on which we are now able to build. These include: The design of contracts with general practition­ers.

More effective chronic medicine dispensing.

Strengthen­ing district health services through clinical specialist teams, ward-based outreach teams and school health services.

Supportive informatio­n systems. In the next phase of NHI implementa­tion, an NHI Fund will be establishe­d. Its initial focus will be:

To improve access to a common set of maternal health and antenatal services and family planning services.

To expand the integrated school health programmes, including provision of spectacles and hearing aids.

To improve services for people with disabiliti­es, the elderly and mentally ill patients, including provision of wheelchair­s and other assistive devices.

In setting up the fund, we will look at various funding options, including possible adjustment­s to the tax credit on medical scheme contributi­ons. Further details will be provided in the Adjustment­s Budget in October this year, and in the course of the legislativ­e process.

An additional R885m has been added to support the implementa­tion of the universal test-and-treat policy for HIV and R600m for the commission­ing of the new Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital.

The quality of our schools and further education institutio­ns is at the heart of our commitment to our children’s future. Improvemen­ts have to begin in the foundation phase of the education “valuechain”.

We will continue to increase resources for early childhood developmen­t, improve our basic education outcomes and step up our support to TVET colleges and universiti­es.

Education spending

Spending on basic education next year will be more than R240bn, or 17.5 percent of the consolidat­ed budget. Allocation­s for school building increase at 12.5 percent a year.

Spending on learning and teaching support materials increases by 9.5 percent over the next three years.

The government recognises the needs articulate­d by students in universiti­es and TVET colleges.

In addition to the increases of R32bn we made in the higher education allocation­s in last year’s Budget and the 2016 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, we have added a further R5bn in the outer year of the MTEF.

The government has provided funds to ensure that no student whose combined family income is below R600 000 per annum will face fee increases at universiti­es and TVET colleges for 2017.

All poor students who applied and qualified for NSFAS awards, and who have been accepted by a university or a TVET college, will be supported. The Heher Commission of Inquiry into Higher Education and Training will complete its work by June this year.

Given the magnitude of student funding requiremen­ts, it is imperative that we develop a clear road map towards a better higher education and training system. It must clearly indicate how society will achieve access, opportunit­y, financing and support for students in the university and further education sectors. Several broad principles will assist in finding the way forward:

The government is determined to address the challenges identified in post-school education and training in a phased manner. Resources will be taken into account in determinin­g the pace with which these can be addressed.

The government stands ready to engage with education stakeholde­rs and adapt financing arrangemen­ts as may be required in future years, within the scope of available resources.

Universiti­es, students and education stakeholde­rs share responsibi­lity for improving access and quality and the diversity of higher education and training provided, within a framework of consultati­on rather than confrontat­ion.

A growing contributi­on is needed from employers and industry through funding of bursaries, internship opportunit­ies and research programmes, recognisin­g that this is the foundation of future productivi­ty and technology advances.

Social assistance

These provide income support to the most vulnerable in our society. These will be increased in April to compensate for consumer price inflation.

The old age grant will increase by R90 to R1 600 for pensioners over the age of 60, and R1 620 for those over 75.

The disability and care dependency grants also increase by R90 to R1600 a month. Foster care grants increase by R30 to R920 a month. The child support grant increases by R20 to R380 a month.

Public procuremen­t

Public procuremen­t will amount to about R1.5 trillion over the next three years. We will pay about R500bn a year for the delivery of goods and services. Not transfers, or hand-outs, or cash distributi­ons.

The purpose is to acquire the infrastruc­ture and operationa­l inputs required for effective service delivery. Public procuremen­t is also an important strategic vehicle for developing local industries, broadening economic participat­ion and creating work opportunit­ies. Last month we gazetted new preferenti­al procuremen­t regulation­s to achieve the following:

Where large firms are awarded tenders of R30m or more, 30 percent of the contract value must go to small or black-owned enterprise­s, where feasible.

Procuremen­t authoritie­s are now empowered to set clear targets to promote black-owned and womenowned businesses, participat­ion of youth and disabled persons and opportunit­ies for rural enterprise­s and co-operatives.

South African suppliers will enjoy preference in respect of goods with significan­t local content, thus supporting job creation.

There will be further reforms this year.

A draft Public Procuremen­t Bill will be published shortly. It will establish a single procuremen­t authority and will consolidat­e the currently fragmented regulatory environmen­t, in keeping with section 217 of the constituti­on.

The central supplier database is now fully operationa­l. It has made doing business with the state much easier and cost effective. It enables government to know who it is doing business with and to use technology to reduce opportunit­ies for fraud and corruption. Already, large numbers of transactio­ns have been identified for further investigat­ion:

Public service employees who appear to be doing business with the state.

Supply agreements that reflect the identity numbers of deceased persons.

Payments to bank accounts other than those of the relevant suppliers.

Where fraud or corruption is identified, action must be taken. Letsogo la molao ke le letelele. The law will catch up with you. Molato ga o bole…

The OCPO currently manages 71 transversa­l contracts covering over 23 000 items worth R61bn. Good progress is being made to find better value for money while expanding and diversifyi­ng the number of suppliers.

Savings of R675m in 2016/17 on cellphones and vehicle contracts. The vehicle contract alone is expected to save the state between R1bn and R1.5bn per year over the medium term.

In the property leasing sector, we expect savings of between R2bn and R3bn to be realised, while releasing resources for greater employment and contractin­g in building maintenanc­e and services.

Collaborat­ive efforts between Sita and the National Treasury have led to savings of R2.5bn over the next three years in the 10 largest ICT equipment contracts.

Working with the Department of Basic Education on cost-effective standards for building design, we have reduced the average cost of new schools from R70m for 7 500m² to R34m.

I need to emphasise again that suppliers who have met their delivery obligation­s are entitled to payment within 30 days. We will continue to monitor progress in meeting this commitment.

Financial sector

procuremen­t Since the global financial crisis in 2008, we together with our partners in the Group of 20, have been on a long journey to make the banking system safer, and prevent the type of economic crisis that systemical­ly important banks can trigger. The cabinet approved the shift to the Twin Peaks regulatory system to make the financial sector safer and serve South Africa better, introducin­g the following structural reforms to our regulatory system:

In 2012, the new Financial Markets Act introduced a framework for unlisted derivative­s, which caused so much damage in the 2008 global financial crisis.

In 2013, the Banks Amendment Act brought in requiremen­ts for increased capital and better liquidity management.

In 2013, the government took steps to deal with household over-indebtedne­ss starting with abuses in emolument attachment orders, also known as garnishee orders.

In 2015, then finance minister Nhlanhla Nene tabled the Financial Sector Regulation Bill to give effect to the Twin Peaks system. As soon as this bill is enacted, we will be able to establish a dedicated market conduct regulator to protect customers and ensure they are treated fairly.

Earlier this year, together with Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, new restrictio­ns on credit life insurance were implemente­d, preventing the sale of retrenchme­nt insurance to people without jobs, for example.

As an employer, the national government has investigat­ed 135 000 emolument orders against state employees and reduced the number of deductions by 49 000. We hope all employers will assist their employees in the same way.

As we have seen recently with the Competitio­n Commission investigat­ion, there is evidence of a collusive culture at trading desks in banks. It is precisely to deal with such abuses that we have proposed a dedicated market conduct regulator, and we hope parliament will pass this bill as soon as possible.

Collusion must be stamped out whether it is in banking, constructi­on or the bread industry. But banks need tougher rules to cover financial market abuses, and the Reserve Bank and National Treasury have initiated work on a more comprehens­ive Financial Markets Review under the leadership of former deputy governor James Cross, to build on the review conducted in 2014.

Although progress has been made in transformi­ng the financial sector, more needs to be done to broaden access through more affordable financial services, improve market conduct, ensure employment equity at top management levels, provide procuremen­t opportunit­ies and transform ownership. We live in an era of rapid technologi­cal change.

Three new banks have been granted provisiona­l licences, including the Postbank, and two new stock exchanges. Their business models are based on technologi­cal innovation with potential to bring services more cost effectivel­y to more people. I am pleased to announce that we will work with partners at Nedlac who have requested that a Financial Sector Summit take place in 2017 to consider transforma­tion in this sector.

The 2017 Budget has been prepared with a view t o strengthen both our economic growth and the transforma­tion of our society.

This year’s Budget Review sets out our point of departure: “To achieve the vision of the constituti­on, South Africa needs transforma­tion that opens a path to inclusive economic growth and developmen­t. Transforma­tion without economic growth would be narrow and unsustaina­ble.”

Redistribu­tion

In December last year, the economics profession lost one of its great champions of redistribu­tion as a public policy priority. Tony Atkinson was both a leading author and academic in the field of public economics, and an expert in the study of the distributi­on of income and wealth.

He provided compelling evidence that, in his words, “less inequality is associated with greater macroecono­mic stability and more sustainabl­e growth”. He argued strongly for active policies to address inequality.

The evidence supports our insistence on a progressiv­e income tax structure, our ongoing work on health insurance and social security reform, our focus on further education and training and our recognitio­n of the structural and technologi­cal dimensions of our employment challenge all find resonance in Atkinson’s policy proposals.

On one important reform, we have taken a giant step forward. We have agreed to implement a minimum wage of R20 an hour with effect from next year.

We are at a crossroads now. We need to act urgently to build confidence and support investment. We need to bring all stakeholde­rs on to an inclusive growth and transforma­tion path. We have proved that we can change course through negotiatio­n, participat­ion and partnershi­p.

We have the resilience needed to move forward confidentl­y even in uncertain times. Last year, impetus was given to several initiative­s under Mr Jabu Mabuza’s business sector leadership:

A fund to support small and medium enterprise­s has been establishe­d.

A youth employment service programme has been initiated, with the aim of creating a million work opportunit­ies over the next three years.

Strategic interventi­ons to support black participat­ion in agricultur­e have been developed. In the year ahead our focus must be on inclusive growth and a transforma­tion action plan.

Bold and ethical leadership is needed from all sectors of society.

I believe that all of us can commit to doing more to make the lives of fellow South Africans better. Obstacles there will be many. Overcome them. Detractors abound. Disprove them. South Africans, wherever you are… Defend your gains; demand accountabi­lity. Be an active agent for change. Umanyano Ngamandla (Unity is power.)

If we make the right choices and do the right things we will achieve a just and fair society, founded on human dignity and equality.

This is the time for activists, workers, business persons, the clergy, profession­als and citizens at large to actively engage in shaping the transforma­tion agenda and ensuring that we do have a just and equitable society. We also need to consider, in the face of such intractabl­e economic hardships and disparitie­s, whether we should supplement our Constituti­onal Bill of Rights with a “Charter of Economic Rights” – a charter that would bind all of us to an economy which:

Provides access to decent and well remunerate­d jobs.

Facilitate­s training and retraining of citizens in the face of technologi­cal change.

Creates a supportive environmen­t for micro, small and medium businesses and co-operatives.

We can draw inspiratio­n from Inkosi Albert Luthuli, when he said: “I believe that here in South Africa with all our diversitie­s of colour and race, we will show the world a new pattern for democracy”. There is a challenge for us. Ours is the collective responsibi­lity, despite many distractio­ns, to live up to the expectatio­ns of Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Beyers Naudé, Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Yusuf Dadoo, Lilian Ngoyi and many others.

In this way we will honour the confidence and trust of our people. In this way our transforma­tion efforts will serve all South Africans. In his tribute to the South African soldiers who lost their lives with the sinking of the SS Mendi, the poet SEK Mqhayi wrote: “Kukhonza mnye ukuze kuphile abanye,” Somebody has to serve, so that others can live.

Can we, in this spirit, say: we have built a better South Africa, with a more inclusive economy, and all citizens living in dignity, advancing economical­ly, over generation­s to come. Ke-a-leboha Na Khensa Ndia-livhuwa Ngiyathoko­za.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from South Africa