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Alan Winde (Photo: Malherbe Nienaber)
- Prime Minister Alan Winde called on the national government to instead send potential SAA ransom money to the poor and hungry.
- Speaking before the MTBPS from Finance Minister Tito Mboweni, he said that the provinces could not afford it.
- As it stands, the money promised to the Western Cape for its response to Covid-19 has not materialized, he said.
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde has asked the national government to “think carefully” about a possible bailout for South African Airways (SAA).
He said all provinces desperately need everything they can to recover from the Covid-19 shutdown and job losses.
“Mr. President, we don’t need state-funded planes, but we do need trains running in the Western Cape,” he said.
Concerned about the budget reduction expected for the province after Finance Minister Tito Mboweni delayed his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS), he said the province is still waiting for the money promised by President Cyril. Ramaphosa for the province’s Covid-19 response.
He said everyone came together, from businesses to government to private citizens, and also focused on a humanitarian response, which included delivering eight million meals to schoolchildren.
Now, the country is facing budget cuts and a debt crisis as it moves to deal with the “second pandemic” of poverty, hunger and unemployment as a result of the shutdown.
“Spokesperson, we had the courage to do the job,” he said, urging that the country not revert to its old ways.
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“Despite the public promises that some made to me, Speaker, personally. Some of you will recall, a meeting at the [Cape Town International Convention Centre] – official socially distanced opening of this incredible Hospital of Hope that we built in six weeks.
“And at that meeting, I still remember that the president looked me in the face and said, ‘Don’t worry Premier, whatever you have to do, we’ll cover those funds.’
“And sadly, we still haven’t seen those funds today.”
Winde said money is still being injected into “bankrupt state companies,” like SAA.
“The Western Cape government budgets in the medium term are likely to be cut by the same amount or more, which will now be funneled into the black hole, which is SAA.
“Let me be very clear: more than R10 billion will be taken out of the mouths of the poor to pay for our failed state airline. Speaker, we don’t need SAA when there are so many airlines that can fly cheaper and better.
Winde added:
We don’t need chicken or beef in heaven delivered to those who already have an income. But what we do need is good nutritious food delivered to our children, so that we can eradicate extreme hunger.
He called on Mboweni and Ramaphosa to consider their course of action carefully and to “trim the fat” first.
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