DoT plans to accelerate expenditure

GOVERNMENT plans to accelerate expenditure in order to catch up with the needs of aviation and maritime transport, which grew by 9,6% from 2000/01 to 2003/04, according to the Department of Transport. In its addendum to the 2004 budget, the department says expenditure over the “medium term” had lagged through a growth of 4,8%. “Expenditure is uneven between 2000/01 and 2003/04, with a low of R67,4 million in 2001/02, and a high of R138,4 million in 2002/03. “The Maritime Transport Regulation sub programme contributed to the decline in 2001/02 because of a significant reduction in the goods and services purchased by this sub programme,” it says. “Air Transport Regulation also contributed to the decline as a result of a decrease in the transfer to the SA Civil Aviation Authority and not paying membership fees for international aviation organisations during this year.” However, “the increase for the programme in 2002/03 is significant at 105%, due to a large increase in expenditure by Maritime Transport Regulation. This funded new activities introduced in 2002/03 to establish a Maritime Rescue Control Centre.” Over the medium term, a “steady growth in expenditure” will be driven by new activities in Maritime Transport Regulation related to the establishment of a Ports Regulator, it says.