Corruption, education big worries

OPPOSITION parties welcomed the provincial budget speech yesterday – but raised concerns about rampant corruption and the lack of a detailed plan to build infrastructure.

Some also bemoaned the Education Department's allocation, saying it was not enough to address challenges.

DA MPL and finance spokesman Bobby Stevenson said the party "welcomes the emphasis on development and infrastructure, but no clear plans were spelt out to deal with the bloated bureaucracy. The cost of employees is eating up funding that should be there for infrastructure and capital development."

Also, education's R27.9-billion would not be enough as it had increased only slightly and there were 5200 vacant posts. The issue of 9200 excess teachers remained, but many of those "do not have the skills match for the substantive vacant posts", Stevenson said. -