By Keitumetse Moticoe

Bloemfontein - The Free State province is to increase labour intensive industries as part of their efforts of creating decent jobs for the unemployed in line with government's Industrial Policy Action Plan for job creation.

MEC for Finance Seiso Mohai during his provincial budget speech said: "As Free State we will therefore step-up our efforts for industrial development and diversification and promoting the expansion of the productive sectors of the provincial economy."

He explained that the work being done in mining, manufacturing and agricultural industries will have to go beyond just saving these industries to increasing their productive capacity and value chain.

"This will be done in our work to promoting labour intensive industries as part of our efforts for creating decent jobs for unemployed," he said.

Pretoria - Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, has called on hospital board members in the province to hold their CEO's accountable for service delivery at different health institutions.

Mahlangu said in terms of the law, hospital board members have a responsibility to ensure that hospitals function effectively and that managers discharge their duties accordingly.

She was addressing a hospital boards' indaba at Natalspruit Hospital in Ekurhuleni on the weekend.

The indaba aims at ensuring more community participation in the running of health institutions.

Mahlangu urged the board members not to shy away from asking difficult questions where they suspect discrepancies.

"Board members are not there to glorify the CEOs but to ensure that management of hospitals does its work properly. It is only through the strict oversight role board members that quality health care can be realized and service delivery can be improved" she said.

Bloemfontein - Free State MEC for Finance Seiso Mohai has called for a better strategy for revenue collection by provincial departments during his 2010/11 provincial budget speech.

Mohai said it is to ensure that targets are met in the coming financial year. "Provincial Treasury is committed to developing a credible revenue budget for the province and to achieve this, it will continue to review the revenue targets of the departments annually through the Adjustment Budget Processes," he said.

The MEC explained that part of the money is from services rendered by the government. He said it's part of the money that is meant to be collected and also used.

Mohai said departments will be requested to submit revenue targets for the 2010/11 financial year, adding that no claims against revenue will be processed if the requesting department has outstanding revenue to pay to the Provincial Revenue Fund.

Pretoria - Gauteng has allocated R6.3 billion for health infrastructure to improve access to health care and performance of the public health care system.

MEC for Finance, Mandla Nkumfe, announced on Tuesday that the Department of Health had prioritised the purchase of medical equipment and supplies, and development and implementation of the Turnaround Strategy and Plan for community health centres and central hospitals.

"The sector will also implement the Turnaround Plan in 10 provincial hospitals to improve levels of healthcare to the citizens of Gauteng," Nkumfe said while tabling the Provincial Budget Speech.

He further expressed his appreciation towards the national Department of Health for honouring the province by prioritising two of its biggest hospitals, Chris Hani Baragwanath and Dr George Mukhari as part of the Public Private Partnership. - BuaNews

Gauteng to spend billions on health