By The Free State MEC for Finance Mr Ketso Makume tabled his plans for the department that carries a R367 937 million budget at the Free State Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, 20 August 2024 in Bloemfontein.
During his budget vote speech, the MEC paid tribute to all the women who are making a difference in both their families and other people in society. Makume described them as brave, tender and fierce, strong, compassionate, unique, powerful and ambitious; they fight for more and achieve so much more for themselves and their families.
MEC Ketso Makume further said his department will be working closely with other departments in the province to achieve the target they have set of allocating at least 40% of public procurement spend to women-owned businesses.
“We are delighted to share that all our departments have embraced and are implementing the new Preferential Procurement Policy, which for the first time provides an opportunity to accounting officers of various state institutions to include, among others, ownership of women in business as a specific goal.
I believe that with the commitment that the accounting officers of our provincial government has shown to implementing this Policy we will be able to drastically improve from the 12.22% of procurement spend that currently goes to women-owned businesses,” said MEC Makume.
The MEC said his budget will focus on key areas that will enhance his department to be able to support the province and municipalities. As the custodian of the public purse, the Department of Treasury will play a key role in supporting the provincial government and local government to achieve the priorities set out by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
One of the focus areas for MEC Makume will be administration in the department.
“This programme provides leadership and strategic management and ensures that appropriate support services are provided to all other programmes of the provincial treasury.
We believe that to help build a capable, ethical and developmental state, we have to start with ourselves. The Department currently has a vacancy rate of 18%, which is unacceptable if we want to provide effective oversight and support. The Department will therefore embark on filling key vacant positions,” he said.
MEC Ketso Makume said he will also focus on sustainable resources management programme where Treasury will ensure that there is improved fiscal sustainability in provincial departments and public entities.
“We operate against a backdrop of the global economy facing downside risks occasioned by, amongst others, geopolitical tensions, high inflation rates and a high cost-of living crises. Global growth is estimated at 3.2 percent this year and is projected to increase to 3.3 percent in 2025.
Our domestic economy is still faced with structural constraints such as electricity load reductions and logistics inefficiencies, in terms of port and rail, which undermine economic performance. we strongly believe that the initiatives implemented by our government, amongst other, the establishment of the Energy Action Plan (2022) to address the challenges of load-shedding in the country and the development of the Freight Logistics Roadmap (2023) to remove the logistics binding constraints will assist in improving economic growth,” remarked the MEC.
Makume said his department will also effectively deal with policies in relation to asset and liabilities management by implementing a programme that will be responsible for providing policy direction, facilitate the effective and efficient management of assets, liabilities and financial management systems.
“This programme monitors and supports departments to comply with supply chain management prescripts. Since the roll-out of the Preferential Procurement Regulation (PPR 2022) the Provincial Treasury conducted several working sessions with departments, entities, and service providers to address the implementation thereof.
The Programme furthermore assisted departments to work towards achieving the allocation of 40% procurement spend towards designated sectors, particularly women owned businesses, through Specific Goals and the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP),” said the MEC.
