Page 15 - Demo

Overview of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (OPRE %u2013 2025/26)expanding access to welfare services and social safety nets for the most vulnerable groups in the province. Currently an estimated 64.9 per cent of households receive some form of social assistance from government in the form of social grants, social relief or old age grants. Access to basic and social services has been improving overtime. However, key challenges remain in the form of spatial inequalities in development and access to services in the province. PROVINCIAL BUDGET STRATEGY AND AGGREGATES The provincial Budget has been formulated to fully align with the key emerging policy priorities of government as contained in the 2025 -2030 Provincial Medium Term Development Plan. The P-MTDP seeks to set out the strategic direction for the province for the next five years. The goalis to achieve inclusive economic growth, lower poverty, whilst developing state capacity toeffectively deliver public services.INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH & JOBS Economic Infrastructure Roads: The N2 Wild Coast is one of the key roads infrastructure projects in the province. To date, SANRAL has spent R2.2 billion in the construction of the N2 Wild Coast projects (including the Msikaba bridge) and the construction of the Mtentu bridge is planned under the package five of the N2 Wild Coast project. Rail: Transnet has secured R2 billion for the Project Ukuvuselela that connects the Eastern Cape with Gauteng and the Western Cape. Transnet has further established the Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM) to promote private operators in the rail mainlines/corridors. Lasty, the ECDOT is currently revitalising selected rail branch lines in the province to facilitate provincial freight logistics. Ports: In terms of port infrastructure, Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) is rolling out infrastructure upgrades in the three provincial ports; manganese export terminal, import gas terminal and the liquid bulk tank farm in Port of Ngqura, the expansion of the automotive terminal in Port of Port Elizabeth, the refurbishment of the grain elevator and deepening of the entrance channel in the Port of East London. Water Access: Eastern Cape is one of the provinces in the country with the high-water backlogs and about 30 per cent of the households in the province lack adequate access to water and sanitation. The National Department of Water and Sanitation and various Water Services Authorities and Water Services Providers are developing water and bulk water infrastructure supply in the province with the Mzimvubu Water Project being one of the flagship mega projects to deal with the water scarcity and water backlogs in the province. The department plans to spend R8 billion in the Ntabelanga Dam of the Mzumvubu Water Project. In addition, various sites have been identified by the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture for the development of irrigation schemes to support agriculture development in the province, these schemes will be located in Amathole and Chris Hani districts. Energy Security: Various wind farm projects are implemented in the province to deal with the persistent electricity outages and promote energy security in the province. The ECPG has facilitated three wind farm projects to construction stage in 2023 and a further three is under facilitation for 2024 and 2025, these projects will provide an additional 1802 megawatts to the provincial grid. xv