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Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) - 2025/26 Financial Year %uf0b7 Assist provincial departments and provincial public entities in building their capacity for efficient, effective and transparent financial management. %uf0b7 Investigate any system of financial management and internal control applied by a provincial department or a provincial public entity; and %uf0b7 Municipal support and enforce Municipal Finance Management. 1.5 Demands for and expected changes in the services. The strategic plan of the department has outlined crucial organisational transformations to achieve its strategic mandate. A thorough review identified critical improvements needed to strengthen procurement performance with specific emphasis on meeting the spending targets that support Eastern Cape-based suppliers. The efforts made by the province have been challenged by the repeal of the 2017 Preferential Procurement Regulations, which previously allowed preference points and mandated subcontracting for designated groups. The introduction of the Public Procurement Bill presents new opportunities to prioritise local suppliers and designated groups, enabling the development of a compliant and more effective Local Economic Development Procurement Framework (LEDPF). In alignment with national and provincial priorities, the department is committed to intensifying efforts to address the historical disparities faced by women, youth, military veterans, and persons with disabilities. This initiative aims to expand opportunities within both the employment and supply chain procurement sectors, reinforcing the government%u2019s commitment to equitable economic participation. Additionally, the department will continue to strengthen interdepartmental collaboration to tackle provincial infrastructure needs and other operational challenges through high-level engagements such as the Treasury-Public Infrastructure Coordinating Committee (T-PICC). These collaborative platforms enable an in-depth review and targeted actions for infrastructure improvements, directly responding to findings from the department's comprehensive analyses. 1.6 The Acts, rules and regulations The department derives its existence from the following legislation: %uf0b7 Sections 213, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 226, 227 and 230 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996); %uf0b7 Sections 17 and 18 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), 1999 as amended; %uf0b7 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA); and %uf0b7 National Treasury Regulations. 1.7 Aligning departmental budgets to achieve the government%u2019s prescribed outcomes. The Constitution mandates the department to provide strategic and technical leadership in the efficient and sustainable allocation, management, and utilization of financial resources across provincial departments, municipalities, and public entities. In line with this mandate, the department has ensured that resource allocations are closely aligned with the Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan (APP), both of which are consistent with the broader Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP). The department continues to enhance fiscal sustainability by implementing rigorous fiscal consolidation measures and cost containment strategies. Additionally, Provincial Treasury will continue its initiatives to boost provincial revenue and strengthen financial management practices across provincial departments and public entities. This approach is designed to support the stabilization of governance within the province while promoting more efficient and effective use of public resources. 777