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Estimates of the Provincial Revenue and Expenditure (EPRE) %u2013 2025/26 Financial Yearensure business continuity and compliance to the technological needs of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The budget increases by 3.8 per cent to R351.228 million in 2025/26 financial year to accommodate inflationary adjustments. Compensation of employees increased from R232.166 million in 2021/22 to a revised estimate of R260.637 million in 2024/25 due to improvement in the conditions of service of staff. In 2025/26, expenditure will increase by 5.7 per cent to R275.423 million due to projected salary increments for improvement in conditions of service for staff members. Goods and services increased from R46.559 million in 2021/22 to a revised estimate of R61.379 million in 2024/25, due to investment in ICT systems which allows digital management of documents. This improves business processes and improves storage of documents for purposes of audits. Goods and services decrease by 6.1 per cent to R57.609 million in 2025/26 financial year due to the centralisation of funds for broadband to the Office of the Premier. Transfers and subsidies decreased from R3.879 million in 2021/22 to a revised estimate of R2.719 million in 2024/25, due to the decrease in the amounts paid for leave gratuities since most of the current employees joined the public service after the year 2000 when capped leave is no longer accumulating, resulting in less amounts paid for leave gratuities than before. In 2025/26 transfers decrease by 19.1 per cent to R2.200 million due to the decrease in the number of retiring officials. Payments for capital assets decreased from R14.599 million in 2021/22 to a revised estimate of R13.529 million in 2024/25 due to reduced spending on software and other intangible assets. These last for many years and do not require replacement on a yearly basis. In 2025/26, allocation for capital payments increases by 18.2 per cent to R15.996 million due to the need to replace server equipment and a vehicle used by the political head of the department as it will have exceeded the minimum mileage for replacement. Programme 2: Cultural Affairs Objectives: To promote culture, conserve and manage the cultural, historical assets and resources, of the province by rendering various services. It consists of the following 4 sub-programmes:%uf0b7 Management: To provide strategic and managerial direction to Cultural Affairs. The subprogramme provides for the coordination, management and functioning of the Cultural Affairs Branch. The sub-programme aims for improved governance and accountability in the cultural space of the province. It drives the development of policies, values and norms in the cultural and creative space of the province. It also drives the creation of partnerships with all other institutions that have a stake in the development of arts and culture. %uf0b7 Arts and Culture: To promote arts and culture through the development of creative industry and preservation of culture by providing support to projects, programmes, community art centres and institutions which have similar aims. The sub-programme helps organizations for the conservation, promotion, and development of culture in terms of the Cultural Commission & Cultural Councils Act and the South African Geographical Names Act. The sub-programme drives the identification, capacitation and creation of exposure platforms for budding artists towards self-sustainability. Programmes of the sub-programme include visual and performing arts, music development, craft development, moral regeneration and culture support. %uf0b7 Museum services: To promote and preserve heritage through museum services and institutions. The sub-programme aims to preserve the heritage landscape of the province through museum institutions for the benefit of future generations, scholars, researchers and the broader tourism industry. The sub-programme drives oral history projects, exhibitions in museums, development of scholars of museum sciences and the support to existing museums. 829