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IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Budget cuts expose SA's public service crisis
While the government touts nominal increases in budget allocations, the harsh truth reveals a significant erosion of real-term funding. Image: Rawpixel/Freepik AS South Africa grapples with deepening inequalities and a faltering public service, the recently adopted Budget Vote Reports for 2025 expose a troubling reality: while the government touts nominal increases in budget allocations, the harsh truth reveals a significant erosion of real-term funding. The Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA), Public Service Commission (PSC), and National School of Governance (NSG) all face budget cuts that threaten to undermine service delivery and exacerbate existing disparities. In a virtual meeting this week, the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration, chaired by the DA's Jan Naudé De Villiers, confronted these critical issues head-on. The reports presented revealed a complex interplay between budget allocations and the pressing needs of public service delivery. Julius Ngoepe, the committee content advisor, noted that the overall budget allocation for the DPSA for 2025/26 stood at R564 million, reflecting a nominal increase of 4.67% from R539m in 2024/25. He pointed out: 'This amount represents a decrease of 0.03% in real terms,' highlighting the painful reality of inflation outpacing budgetary growth. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The DPSA's budget over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period is projected at R1.8 billion, with a staggering 54.4%, or R966m, earmarked for the compensation of employees (COE). This allocation raised critical questions about the sustainability of service delivery, particularly as spending on transfers and subsidies accounts for only 10.2%, or R178m, with R158m designated for the Centre for Public Service Innovation (CPSI). During the meeting, members voiced their concerns regarding the budget's failure to address systemic inequalities within the public service. The EFF's Sixolisa Gcilishe, lamented the budget's failure to address systemic inequalities: 'The budget failed to address systematic inequalities in the public service as reflected in the wage disparities between top and lower management.' She further highlighted the inadequacy of the R300m allocated for administration in Programme 1, saying: 'Frontline workers remain underpaid,' and questioned the effectiveness of the budget cuts on service delivery. The chairperson acknowledged the gravity of these concerns, saying: 'This was an internal meeting to consider and adopt the DPSA, PSC, and NSG Budget Vote Reports.' He emphasised the importance of documenting these discussions, urging members to reflect their views in the report. Gcilishe insisted that 'the comments should be reflected in the report because the government would not be aware if they were only made in speeches and not documented'. The meeting also saw a significant push for changes in the funding model for the Thusong service centres. The DA's Leah Potgieter proposed: 'The funding should be split among the various departments that were making use of the centres,' leading to an amendment in the recommendation. National and provincial departments providing services in the Thusong service centres should co-fund the centres to ensure their long-term sustainability.' As the discussion progressed, the committee grappled with the implications of budget cuts on service delivery. The committee secretary, Masixole Zibeko, advised that some comments should be added to the report while others should be reserved for the Budget Debate. He cautioned members against introducing new recommendations at this stage, saying: 'Members had opportunities on two previous occasions to do so.' The sentiment of dissatisfaction with budget cuts was echoed by Ngoepe, who said: 'Every sector had expressed dissatisfaction with budget cuts.' This sentiment was further reinforced by the MK Party's Japhta Malinga, who warned that adding new issues at this stage was 'not doing justice to the process'. The chairperson agreed, saying: 'The DPSA had a role to play, but solving youth unemployment was not the sole responsibility of the Department.' The NSG's budget allocation for 2025/26 was also scrutinised, with Ngoepe presenting a budget of R228m, a nominal increase of 4.5% from R218m in 2024/25. Potgieter raised concerns about the allocation of more than 51% of the budget for administration rather than training programmes, saying the bloated administration and minimal training should be highlighted in the report. The chairperson acknowledged this as a valid concern, noting: 'This is a general concern in almost every department across government.' In the PSC report, the overall budget allocation for 2025/26 is R302m, which represents an increase of 4.68% in nominal terms but a decrease of 0.02% in real terms. Langa emphasised the need for security measures for PSC commissioners, saying the critical role of the PSC commissioners and the need for protection against threats at all times should be reflected in the report.
Toronto Sun
15-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Reports of crimes aboard U.S. cruise ships reach 2-year high, data shows
Reports of alleged crimes on cruise ships departing from U.S. ports has reached a two-year high. Photo by Rawpixel / iStock / Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. It appears now is not a good time to book a spot on a cruise departing from a U.S. port. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account According to data obtained by Fox News from the U.S. Department of Transportation, crime rates reached a two-year high on cruise ships after 48 alleged offences were reported in the first three months of 2025. 'Sometimes, the cruise lines don't want to report this information on the front end depending upon, again, what type of crime it is, which brings unfortunate attention to them, just as it would when we have airplane situations or the delays in airplanes that we're having now,' Robert McDonald, a former Secret Service special agent and criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, told Fox News. 'All of that negative vibe and negative information puts a dark cloud over the industry, an industry that wants people to come to it and wants them to be comfortable spending their money.' Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Of the alleged crimes reported this year, 24 were identified as rapes, 10 were sexual assaults and seven were criminal assaults. According to McDonald, criminal acts are more likely among large groups of people who are confined to a small space for extended periods of time. 'I think anytime we get large numbers of people together, whether it's at a Super Bowl game or at a World Series game or an NBA Finals or graduations or whatnot, whenever we get people together, whenever there's alcohol involved, whenever there are people being able to let loose a little bit from their normal personality, I think that exacerbates the ability for numbers to rise in that regard,' he said. RECOMMENDED VIDEO A recent brawl among passengers who disembarked from a cruise ship near Houston paints a wary picture. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As vacationers were picking up their luggage last month at the Galveston Cruise Terminal following a seven-day, round-trip voyage of the Caribbean, fists began to fly. Video shared to social media showed two men fighting as a large group of people swarm them and aggressively throw punches amid the chaos. A security guard runs toward the melee before two police officers arrive in an attempt to break up the brawl. The fight apparently stemmed from an incident on the ship's basketball court the day before. A Chicago man was charged after an elderly person was allegedly pushed in the baggage area following an argument. Read More
