Publications
Cape Town - An additional R2.2bn will be set aside to administer life-saving drugs to people with HIV and disperse social grants over the next three years, according to the Treasury.
The mini budget proposes an average increase of 7.3% on health care and social grants.
This would see spending on health and social protection reach R328.4bn by 2017.
"Health is a labour-intensive function and receives additional funding to accommodate wage pressures," the mini budget said.
The national health grant will be cut back because of slow spending patterns, but other programmes will see funding increases.
"Additional funds will allow for the purchase of new equipment for forensic chemistry laboratories," according to the medium-term outlook.
Money will also be set aside for the rollout of a new vaccine for the human papillomavirus.
The vaccine - administered to young girls and boys - can potentially reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.
"Funds have been reprioritised to the department of social development to establish shelters for victims of gender-based violence and substance abuse centres."
As expected, more money will be spent on social grants as a result of a rise in beneficiaries, and also to bring the subsidy in line with inflation.
The process to re-register beneficiaries is expected to bring savings which will offset the growth in grants expenditure.
"This process, which began in March 2012, is designed to eliminate erroneous or fraudulent claims," the mini budget said.
Treasury expects to have a "clear picture" of how many South Africans are legitimately receiving grants by next year's budget.
