Financial Struggles Delay Promises in KwaZulu-Natal: Premier Ntuli’s 100-Day Report

THE provision of the communities with the needs of KwaZulu-Natal WILL BE DELAYED, due to the poor financial situation of the provincial government.

Premier Mr. Thami Ntuli, said that some promises made by the provincial government cannot be fulfilled in the time set because of the financial situation they are under.

He said this while presenting a report on the 100 days of working for the KwaZulu-Natal government. The KwaZulu-Natal government was announced in June. Ntuli and the trustees of various departments made big promises when they presented the budgets of their departments. Speaking at a press conference, Ntuli painted a negative picture of the financial situation in the KwaZulu-Natal government.

"The KwaZulu-Natal government does not have enough money. That means that we will not be able to fulfill all the requests that we made in the given time. However, we will make sure that we come up with new strategies and we will be able to do a little with what we have." 

Ntuli said that they are faced with a situation where the money spent by the provincial government increases rapidly, and the amount collected decreases.

He said the provincial government owes companies R10 billion, and said there is a debt of R5, 5 billion that must be paid this financial year. 

The MEC of Finance, Mr. Francios Rodgers, said that the financial crisis in KwaZulu-Natal is caused by the failure of the provincial budget for years in a row by the national government.

"I always say that we did not put ourselves in the situation we are in. In the last four years, the national government has reduced KwaZulu-Natal's allocation by R66 billion. In the next four years, KwaZulu-Natal's budget will be reduced by R12 billion," said Rodgers.

Rodgers said the task they face is not easy. "No one said it would be easy. It will be very difficult this year but that doesn't mean we should give up."The KwaZulu-Natal government has tied up different parties, some of which were at odds before the election, the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP. Ntuli, who was flanked by trustees from these groups when he spoke, said there is stability in the coalition government that runs the province. 

He said the 100-day meeting shows that the coalition government is going nowhere.

"Some people said that I am only a temporary premier, but look at where we are now. We continue to work.”

These words were echoed by trustees from other parties, Mr. Siboniso Duma, from the ANC, and Ms. Mbali Shinga, from the NFP.