The debate, scheduled to kick off at 14:00, is expected to pay much attention to the R38.6 billion budget and how it has been allocated towards different departments. 

OFM News previously reported that two of the biggest Free State departments – Education and Health – have received the bulk of the province’s budget with Education allocated over R15.4 billion and Health over R12.1 billion. 

Tabling the budget at the Gariep Dam, Brown explained that the two departments at the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic will, amongst other responsibilities, have to strengthen their fight against the spread of the virus and improve their service delivery. 

More than R416 million has also been allocated to the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to help ailing municipalities. Whilst the Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Finance has since welcomed the budget, they raised concerns over lack of consequence management in both the provincial and local government, stating that more needs to be done to ensure that the budget allocated by Brown caters for what it is meant for.

OFM News