Opposition in GP Legislature rubbish Community Safety budget cut amid rampant crime
On Wednesday, Premier Panyaza Lesufi presented the R2.3 billion community safety budget before the Gauteng Legislature, vowing to crack down on criminal elements.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi in studio with Clement Manyathela. Picture: Karabo Tebele/702
JOHANNESBURG - Opposition parties have questioned Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s sincerity to fight crime after the Community Safety Department's budget was slashed by over R300 million.
On Wednesday, Lesufi presented the department's R2.3 billion budget before the Gauteng Legislature, promising to continue his fight against high levels of crime in the province.
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On Thursday, members of the legislature will be meeting again to vote on the budget.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) member Jeannette Maloka said her party's caucus would not be voting in favour of it.
"This reduction comes at a time when the crime rate in Gauteng is alarmingly high. How can we justify a decreased budget in the face of rising crime? Particularly, the traffic management programme has seen a significant cut of 16%, dropping from R2.2 billion to R1.9 billion. This programme is crucial for reducing road fatalities and ensuring road safety."
Freedom Front (FF) Plus member Jaco Mulder noted a critical concern in the budget cut, saying that crime-fighting initiatives needed to be ramped up.
"Time will tell if the move of the Department of Community Safety to the Office of the Premier was a wise one. The FF Plus is of a keen opinion that this key department should have a dedicated and fit-for-purpose MEC implementing effective crime intelligence systems in Gauteng. Prevention has proved to be the most effective way of combating crime. The FF Plus cannot support this vote."
DA TO VOTE AGAINST EVERY SINGLE BUDGET ITEM
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said its vote against the provincial government budgets is not motivated by bitterness over being outside the governing coalition.
With the ANC leading a minority government, it will need parties outside of its coalition to get anything passed.
However, the DA, which has the second most seats in the legislature, has indicated it will be voting against every single budget item.
The DA’s provincial leader - Solly Msimanga – said this was not related to the last-minute break down the party had with the ANC to form a government.
“We would have still voted this budget down had it not been that if we were in cabinet, we would not have been listened to. So, these are some of the things that made us not go into Cabinet, to then say let’s unpack decision making, how services are to be dealt with, making sure there are programmes that are aimed at delivering services. So things like that wouldn't have come forward because we would have dealt with those things in the preparatory Cabinet meetings."