Sufficient budget allocations are imperative in fulfilling government's obligation to ensure the progressive realisation of socio-economic rights. It is equally as important for government to utilise these resources efficiently and for their intended purpose. This requires planning and institutional capacity in order to deliver on mandates and targets. Therefore, spending needs to be effective and through budgetary allocations, tangible outcomes or improvements must be achieved. Finally, resource allocation should be linked to equity, with the needs of the most vulnerable prioritised in order to reduce disparities.
We analyse the allocation and expenditure trends of the Department of Human Settlements over a five-year period, therefore 2012 and 2017, at all three levels of government in order to interrogate the reasonableness of government’s budgeting for the right to adequate housing.
Data is drawn from National Treasury documents- Estimates of National Expenditure- and departmental documents, such as annual reports.
