KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial departments are grappling with severe financial strain as national austerity measures take effect, sparking fears of a collapse in essential services, particularly healthcare.

Key departments such as Health, Education, and Social Development face critical cash flow challenges, unable to pay creditors on time due to diminishing revenue streams.

Cost-cutting measures have frozen hiring, delayed procurement of goods and services, and restricted travel to save resources.

The Department of Health, projected to overspend its budget by R4.7 billion, is finalizing its austerity plans.

However, concerns are mounting that further cuts could endanger lives.

The department’s inability to hire new medical staff has exacerbated surgical and clinical backlogs, reduced ambulance availability, and prolonged patient waiting times.

Dr. Imran Keeka, DA provincial spokesperson on health, criticized the national government for abandoning the province to handle the crisis independently, describing the situation as “unfair.”

He stressed the urgency of scrutinizing the Health Department’s cost-cutting proposals, emphasizing that further service curtailments could have devastating effects.

Adding to the financial strain is the 7.8% salary hike for civil servants, implemented without additional funding from National Treasury.

This decision has forced provincial departments to absorb the increase, intensifying budgetary pressures.

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli has engaged President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Cabinet to seek intervention after the province’s budget allocation was reduced by R5.7 billion.

Despite these efforts, the outlook remains bleak.

The crisis is not limited to healthcare. Social development and education, which play vital roles in supporting vulnerable communities, are also at risk.

As austerity measures deepen, concerns are growing that the poorest citizens will suffer disproportionately, with essential services stretched to breaking point.