PANKOP – The Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Finance convened on Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Masobe Community Hall in Pankop for the second leg of the public hearing on the Mpumalanga Appropriation Bill [B3-2025].
Chaired by Sonto Malepeng, the session aimed to discuss funding appropriations from the Provincial Revenue Fund for the 2025/26 financial year and to outline conditions for the withdrawal of funds for the following year.
The Appropriation Bill serves as a vital legislative tool, detailing budget allocations across various departments, the intended purposes of these funds, and specific initiatives aimed at improving service delivery in the province.
During the hearing, Gladys Milanzi from the Provincial Treasury presented an overview of the proposed budget, which totals R66,185,097. She elaborated on the distribution of these funds among departments, highlighting the need for increased allocations to certain sectors to strengthen service delivery. “Departments receiving increased budgets are crucial for improving services to communities throughout Mpumalanga,” Milanzi noted during her presentation.
Despite the detailed financial breakdown, the public raised concerns about the bill. Attendees expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of timely and effective service delivery, questioning whether the proposed budget would bring real improvements to their daily lives. Chairperson Sonto Malepeng acknowledged the community’s frustrations, stressing the importance of transparency. “It is crucial that the public understands the rationale behind the proposed allocations,” she said. She assured the audience that their concerns would be recorded and forwarded to the relevant departments for further consideration. The hearing highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by the provincial government in aligning budgetary provisions with the needs and expectations of its constituents. As the committee prepares to finalise the bill, feedback from this public engagement will be vital in shaping the future of financial governance and accountability in Mpumalanga.
