East Cape’s budget wish list

Energy crisis and Nooitgedacht water scheme major concerns

THE Eastern Cape will be holding thumbs that it gets its fair share of the budget pie.

Widely regarded as the poorest province in the country, the Eastern Cape will this afternoon listen with interest as Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene delivers his first budget speech.

Provincial DA finance spokesman Bobby Stevenson is hoping Nene will make an announcement in regard to the R300-million necessary for the Nooitgedacht water scheme.

This is despite the announcement last week that President Jacob Zuma would not honour the promise he made before last year’s election of a R300-million injection to complete the project to stabilise Nelson Mandela Bay’s ailing water supply.

“It is vitally important to save Port Elizabeth from the imminent water crisis that the city faces.

“I am also hoping he will make a very strong statement about reining in excessive government expenditure on non-core items such as travel, accommodation and endless workshops that take place in non-state buildings,” Stevenson said.

-Cindy Preller