Finance MEC Gadija Brown, who tabled her budget last month before the coronavirus outbreak took shape in South Africa, explains to OFM News that the 21-day lockdown period enables the provincial departments not only to temporarily flout regulations pertaining to the passing of their budgets, but they will also be able to cut down on local and international travel expenditure. It’s this money that she says will be redirected towards the fund. She further allays concerns over how departments will continue to operate despite their individual budgets not being passed yet due to the pandemic. 

In terms of the national state of disaster declared by President Cyril Ramaphosa, provincial bodies and departments are permitted for now, not to comply with regulations 8, 9, 40, 55 and 65 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). She says this means each department may continue to spend only 45% of their budget within the first four months of the financial year. She says this must be in alignment within the mandate of the department and the allocations made in the Finance MEC’s provincial budget. She stresses the provincial Treasury will monitor the departments during this time.

This as Free State Premier, Sisi Ntombela, announced the cancellation of the Mangaung Cultural Festival (Macufe), the Free State Madeira Flower Festival held in Parys and all June 16-related celebrations in the province in a briefing at Bophelo House on 20 March. Ntombela said the money allocated to these events would be redirected towards the ongoing battle against the coronavirus. 

So far, 86 people in the Free State have tested positive for the virus, with 77 of those people located in Mangaung Metro. 

OFM News