There were no surprises for ICT in the Western Cape's medium-term budget, as the provincial government focuses its spending on modernising ICT systems and improving service delivery.
While no ICT projects suffered declining budget allocations, none of the projects in the province received any additional allocations. The forecasted overall 2010 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework allocations increased by R5.8 million, but the R235 million allocated to ICT in the province, in June, would not be affected.
Western Cape finance, economic development and tourism MEC Alan Winde says that, while the increased spending would go to education, health and infrastructure projects, ICT projects are still major. The department would also focus on improving and standardising its ICT infrastructure and systems, monitoring, evaluation and governance.
“A key initiative driven by the department of the premier is the modernisation project, which has as key outputs the completion of the relevant blueprints in relation to organisational design, legislative frameworks, resource management, as well as e-governance,” says Winde.
In June, Western Cape premier Helen Zille announced the government would introduce an IT-based management tool that would be used for the entire administration and a Strategic Projects Unit, which will drive key projects that cut across departments.
Declining revenue
Winde says one of the biggest challenges the economic climate has posed for government is that less revenue has become available for government expenditures.
He adds that, with the “pressure on the revenue envelope”, the focus of the provincial government will be to leverage from efficiency gains and reprioritise expenditure towards priority areas.
“The development of the Western Cape's budget over the next three years provides our policy response to ongoing regional, national and international affairs, and cannot be done in isolation of these larger economic realities... The overall fiscal envelope, therefore, remains tight with limited room for expansion of current services. It is becoming increasingly challenging to fund provincial priorities.”
Winde adds that, while provincial revenue has decreased, the provincial government had to use its resources to maximise inclusive economic and employment growth; improve school education; maximise health outcomes; reduce crime; alleviate poverty; and provide a value-driven and responsive government.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Audra Mahlong
Quelle/Source: ITWeb, 01.12.2009
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