Prioritising spending on “economic” infrastructure such as roads and transport, electricity, and water and sanitation,
the 2015 National Budget has earmarked R274-billion for construction, maintenance, repair and upgrade of public-sector infrastructure in the coming fiscal year.
Surprisingly, estimated public spending on infrastructure over the current medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period had been revised downwards by R34.2-billion to R813.1-billion.
Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene, however, noted in his maiden National Budget speech on Wednesday that government would continue to make “substantial” contributions through the fiscus to infrastructure services over the MTEF period.
“We have all been reminded of the importance of infrastructure investment and maintenance over the past year. It is not just an inconvenience when the lights go out, there is a cost to the economy in production and income and jobs foregone.
The article provides details on sector allocations, energy infrastructure, transport infrastructure, human settlements, health & education and municipal amendments.
