The Free State Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC has slammed opposition parties for casting doubt on the multimillion-rand budget recently tabled by Finance MEC Gadija Brown.

Political parties, including the DA and FF Plus, claimed Brown’s budget speech failed to address fundamental issues dealing with economic growth, corruption, and wasteful expenditure across government institutions, including municipalities and departments.

During the budget debate, Cogta MEC Ketso Makume explained how the ANC has been trying to address three challenges created by historical factors namely – unemployment, inequality, and poverty. Makume detailed how the historical structures are impacting the future.

‘So poverty is affecting mainly black people’

“All of us agree the unemployment rate is high; there’s still a gap between the haves and the have-nots; the have-nots being black and the haves being whites. So poverty is affecting mainly black people. So if you structure any government institution, you are going make sure that this government institution must heed the call to resolve those challenges,” he said.

Makume used the recent land invasion incident at Lourierpark as an example, claiming the DA quickly reacted to ensure people were removed because they were close to the white community. But little attention was given to land invaders in Botshabelo near N8 and Thaba Nchu.

‘Most don’t have anything to pay for services’

“It’s a well-known fact in some areas people are unable to pay for services, not because they don’t want to pay for services. They know they use water and electricity, but most don’t have anything to pay for services.

“So for other people, it’s easy to say cut services. You can’t cut services because some services the constitution (says) those are the basic needs of our people, you have to give them.” 

Makume said the budget was attacked because it is pro-poor and speaks to bringing communities together. 

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi