Gauteng budget full of promises

HOPE: R500BN ALLOCATED TO TURN AROUND PROVINCE

- Jarryd Westerdale

UPBEAT. Gauteng finance and economic development MEC Lebogang Maile says the budget will expand public services, such as health and education, create jobs and help fight crime. Picture: Gallo Images

Gauteng will receive more than R500 billion over the next three years as the province aims to rebuild confidence in the administration.

MEC for finance and economic development Lebogang Maile spoke in positive terms as he outlined the province's trajectory during his medium-term expenditure framework speech yesterday.

Maile repeated the optimism shared by the province's premier, Panyaza Lesufi, in his state of the province address.

Lesufi's address several weeks ago announced widespread investment initiatives, which Maile hailed as a "force multiplier" for growth in the province.

The MEC said the province's annual gross domestic product by region totalled R2.4 trillion, making up 33% of the country's GDP and 10% of sub-Saharan Africa's.