/ 24 February 1999

GAUTENG PROJECTS SURPLUS

THE Gauteng provincial government is budgeting for a surplus of R187-million, or 1.2%, for the 1999/2000 fiscal year, Finance MEC Jabu Moleketi announced on Tuesday. Moleketi said the provincial government is budgeting for a total expenditure of R15,709-billion. Revenue from all sources was expected to total R15,895-billion. The surplus will go towards redeeming the provincial overdraft, increased social spending, tourism promotion, and the All Africa Games. Licence fees will rise by 5,13% effective April 1 to increase revenue to a projected R518-million. The budget makes provision for only R84-million revenue from patient fees, down from a budgeted R112-million in 1998/99, a decline accounted for mostly by the provision of free health care to expectant mothers and children under the age of six years. A tourist “bed-levy” will also raise money for the province.