Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa says human resources problems are being addressed by her department as it tries to turn around its finances‚ after years of debt moving from one to another financial year.
Ramokgopa spoke to journalists at the Gauteng legislature ahead of delivery her R46.4-billion budget in the house.
She said the department had failed to pay bonuses for the 2016/17 financial year because there was no funding for this but had been able to increase
The reason‚ she said‚ was the department had to absorb 700 employees who had worked in two health facilities that were closed down – Life Esidimeni and Selby Park.
Angry staff members had threatened to embark on a go-slow over the non-payment of bonuses.
The department is also tackling the issue of filling critical posts. Last year alone‚ eight senior managers left the department. Ramokgopa said the department has been able to appoint a head of department‚ a chief financial officer and a head of legal services. She added that most of the money from national treasury would go to providing healthcare then settling old debt.
“In the past‚ the budget would be approved here [in the legislature] and divided to all units. But each unit would also carry what they owed the previous year … Before they [the units] start spending [on healthcare]‚ they would pay what they owed service providers the previous year.
But from this year they won’t have to this‚ she said. “This year is the first year where we are turning the tide in protecting frontline services.”
Ramokgopa added: “Over the next three years‚ treasury has given us dedicated and ring fenced funds - R1.5-billion for this year. We have prioritised paying all SMMEs. Those that we owe R10-million and below‚ we will be paying them in two tranches this year. There are 39 big businesses with whom we have negotiated and we will be paying them over the MTEF [medium term expenditure framework] period.”
The units would now have to control spending and keep it within the budget. “If you don’t live within the budget you create a problem for the next year.”
The Gauteng health department has struggled with accruals for years. Ramokgopa said each year‚ debt would rise by R2-billion. But in the current financial year‚ accruals dropped from R6.9-billion to R6.5-billion‚ a sign‚ she said that the department was turning the corner.
Gauteng health department says it’s dealing with its debt
Image: KABELO MOKOENA
Gauteng health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa says human resources problems are being addressed by her department as it tries to turn around its finances‚ after years of debt moving from one to another financial year.
Ramokgopa spoke to journalists at the Gauteng legislature ahead of delivery her R46.4-billion budget in the house.
She said the department had failed to pay bonuses for the 2016/17 financial year because there was no funding for this but had been able to increase
The reason‚ she said‚ was the department had to absorb 700 employees who had worked in two health facilities that were closed down – Life Esidimeni and Selby Park.
Angry staff members had threatened to embark on a go-slow over the non-payment of bonuses.
The department is also tackling the issue of filling critical posts. Last year alone‚ eight senior managers left the department. Ramokgopa said the department has been able to appoint a head of department‚ a chief financial officer and a head of legal services. She added that most of the money from national treasury would go to providing healthcare then settling old debt.
“In the past‚ the budget would be approved here [in the legislature] and divided to all units. But each unit would also carry what they owed the previous year … Before they [the units] start spending [on healthcare]‚ they would pay what they owed service providers the previous year.
But from this year they won’t have to this‚ she said. “This year is the first year where we are turning the tide in protecting frontline services.”
Ramokgopa added: “Over the next three years‚ treasury has given us dedicated and ring fenced funds - R1.5-billion for this year. We have prioritised paying all SMMEs. Those that we owe R10-million and below‚ we will be paying them in two tranches this year. There are 39 big businesses with whom we have negotiated and we will be paying them over the MTEF [medium term expenditure framework] period.”
The units would now have to control spending and keep it within the budget. “If you don’t live within the budget you create a problem for the next year.”
The Gauteng health department has struggled with accruals for years. Ramokgopa said each year‚ debt would rise by R2-billion. But in the current financial year‚ accruals dropped from R6.9-billion to R6.5-billion‚ a sign‚ she said that the department was turning the corner.
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