Public spending must place people at the centre

WHEN President Cyril Ramaphosa recently labelled the return of unspent service delivery funds to the Treasury as “treason against the people”, he touched a nerve in a country hungry for effective governance.

- NYANISO QWESHA

His strong condemnation reflects a growing national frustration: billions meant to address urgent needs like healthcare, education, water, and infrastructure lie unused, forfeited back to Treasury coffers. In a nation with chronic service delivery shortfalls, this feels like betrayal.

Yet the president's rebuke also invites a deeper question: does spending every allocated rand automatically lead to better outcomes? Or could a singular focus on budget absorption, without regard to quality and planning, result in waste, corruption, and public disillusionment?

Let us explore why underspending is a symptom, not the root of deeper governance and capacity issues. Rather than rush to meet spending targets, government leaders must focus on spending strategically, accountably, and transparently to deliver long-term impact.

Ramaphosa's comments to the National Council of Provinces spotlight a longstanding issue: municipalities and provinces frequently fail to spend their full budgets, especially for infrastructure and basic services.