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NOVEMBER 2022 VOL.9 ISSUE #12 FREE NEWSPAPER, MAHALA! READ & SHARE City launch road safety campaign!
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Tshepo 1Million comes to Ratanda!
Bafana end 2022 on a winning note!
R2.4 billion budget to fund Gauteng plans for improving lives! Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo increased Gauteng’s budget for this financial year by R2.4 billion, saying the money will be used to improve the lives of people in townships, informal settlements and hostels, fighting crime and supporting economic growth initiatives. The MEC (pictured) was presenting his first 2022 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement and the Adjustments Budget to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on Thursday, November 24. He said the total annual budget of the provincial government increased from R152.9 billion presented in March this year to R155.3 billion. “The Adjustments Budget is about making permissible amendments, which includes unforeseeable and unavoidable expenditure in the budget of the
current financial year. Put differently, the budget adjustment gives us an opportunity to already be planting the seed for the medium- and long-term funding of the Five Elevated Priorities,” MEC Mamabolo said. To intensify the fight against crime, corruption, vandalism and lawlessness, MEC Mamabolo allocated a total of R173 million to Department of Community Safety.
These funds will be used to recruit and train peace wardens, tools of trade, procurement of 10 drones, 50 vehicles and 500 000 panic buttons. As part of efforts to develop integrated human settlements and transform the spatial landscape of Gauteng, the Department of Human Settlements is allocated R100 million to complete incomplete infrastructure projects in the province.
MEC Mamabolo said as part of efforts to grow the economy and create jobs, the Department of Economic Development is allocated R60 million.
“A total of R40 million of this amount will be used to fund the costs of diesel to alleviate the existing electricity supply challenges
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No fees or waiting period to enter state rehab center! The Gauteng Department of Social Development has dismissed reports on social media that you have to wait for more than two years to get space at state rehabilitation centers. The Department says any other person in need can access rehabilitation for free at state-run drug rehabilitation centers and those run by NonProfit Organizations subsidized by the government. The Gauteng Provincial Government still invites young people who are struggling with drugs and alcohol addiction to come forward and get help. The Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi and Social Development, Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, MEC Mbali Hlophe have recently launched a new initiative to rehabilitate the youth addicted to the notorious street drug nyaope at Dr Florence & Fabian Ribeiro Treatment Centre in Tshwane. In a build-up to the launch, the Gauteng Provincial Government launched a substance abuse helpline after several calls for help with teenage substance abuse. The helpline is a bid to intensify the fight against substance abuse across the province. The 24 hours anti-substance abuse call center service is a platform for parents and caregivers to apply for rehabilitation for their children or adults addicted to drugs. Applicants, if successful, will be enrolled at a state rehabilitation center. The helpline can be accessed at 0800 228 827 or by email: GPAntiSubstanceAbuse@gauteng. gov.za or USSD *134*47472# and follow the prompts.