Godongwana's billions for health relief

Major funding announced for healthcare and disaster response initiatives

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA AND THEOLIN TEMBO

LABOUR unions and civil society organisations gathered in front of Parliament in Cape Town yesterday to demand an end to austerity measures and for social relief for the destitute. | AYANDA NDAMANE Independent Newspapers

(AYANDA NDAMANE Independent Newspapers)

FINANCE Minister Enoch Godongwana yesterday said the Madlanga Commission will be funded to the tune of R147m and the National Dialogue will receive R132m.

He was speaking in the media lockup briefing ahead of tabling his Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). He announced that R5.2 billion was allocated from the previous financial year and there was an unforeseen and unavoidable expenditure of R1.6 billion in the 2025 adjustment budget. Godongwana said the allocated amounts will cover disaster relief and funding for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

"It also includes spending announced at the time of the 2025 Budget for the National Dialogue, Statistics South Africa and the Office of the Chief Justice and confirms the provisional allocations for health and education, including early childhood development."

The allocations were proposed for disaster relief backlogs not funded in the 2024 adjustment budget to rehabilitate municipal infrastructure, provincial roads, schools, healthcare facilities and agriculture.

Godongwana said the contingency reserve has been revised upwards from R5bn to R13.5bn to provide for various infrastructure projects, such as freight rail rehabilitation and for the 2026 elections.