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The Gauteng Provincial Government has set aside more than R250 billion over the next three years for citizens to have access to quality education and health care services.

Presenting the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and the 2016/17 Adjustment Budget at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, MEC for Finance Barbara Creecy said education will spend about R128.7 billion in the next three years.

“This will finance 2.3 million learners in the public schooling system, including 1.2 million learners at no fee schools, 42 thousands learners in special schools and 141 thousand Grade R learners,” said MEC Creecy.

She said over the last two years, the provincial government spent R600 million on bursaries, learnerships and internships which benefitted thousands of learners from poor families across the province.

Creecy said government understands that improved matric outcomes have allowed Gauteng’s youth from township schools to dream of achieving a degree or diploma.

“While funding tertiary education is not the primary mandate of provincial government, we could not stand idle,” said Creecy.

The spending on health is cumulatively R127.2 billion over the 2017 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Creecy said in the last two and half years, close to 17 million patients were seen at Gauteng health facilities, 745 thousand patients are on ARVs and 514 thousands healthy babies were born in Gauteng facilities.

With regard to ensuring infrastructure service delivery is enhanced, Creecy said the provincial government will continue to work with the private sector.    

She said infrastructure investment remained central for both the provision of services to citizens and the promotion of employment and economic growth. In this regard, Creecy allocated more than R44.8 billion to the infrastructure development over 2017 MTEF.

The provincial Treasury has recently re-convened the Infrastructure Spending Committee.  Through this committee, departments must agree on projects that must be completed within this financial year and begin procurement processes for the next financial year.

Creecy reiterated that this government has no place for delays in planning and tender processes.

Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government