Government budget and revenue in Eastern Cape, South Africa: official figures
The Eastern Cape provincial government spent R102.2 billion in 2025/26, 99.8% of its adjusted budget of R102.4 billion and about R14,416 per resident; 3rd highest of the nine provinces per person (12.6% of all provincial spending).
How much money does Eastern Cape get from national government?
Eastern Cape is allocated R86.6 billion from the national equitable share in 2026/27, up 3.0% on 2025/26, about R12,213 per resident (3rd highest of the nine provinces). The National Treasury projects R92.2 billion by 2028/29.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhere does the Eastern Cape provincial government get its money?
Of the R102.0 billion the province received in 2025/26, 82.4% came from the equitable share, 15.7% from conditional grants and 1.9% (R1.9 billion) from its own revenue such as vehicle licence fees.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhat does the Eastern Cape provincial government spend its money on?
Education and health together took 77% of spending, and staff pay 64% (R65.4 billion).
Source: National Treasury · saved copyDoes Eastern Cape spend its infrastructure budget?
The province spent R4.3 billion on buildings, roads, equipment and other capital assets in 2025/26, 92.9% of its adjusted capital budget, 4th lowest of the nine provinces.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyHow Eastern Cape compares with other provinces
Provincial government spending per resident (2025/26)
Eastern Cape ranks 3 of 9, highest first. Actual 2025/26 spending divided by the 2025 mid-year population estimate
| Rank | Region | Provincial government spending per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northern Cape | R16,863 |
| 2 | Free State | R15,453 |
| 3 | Eastern Cape | R14,416 |
| 4 | Limpopo | R14,013 |
| 5 | North West | R13,595 |
| 6 | KwaZulu-Natal | R13,222 |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | R13,207 |
More on Eastern Cape: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · poverty and living standards · South Africa
Sources
- National Treasury: 2026 Budget Review, Chapter 6, Table 6.2: provincial equitable share 2025/26 to 2028/29, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 3eafdcfc79f3…)
- National Treasury: Provincial budgets and expenditure, 4th quarter 2025/26 (Section 32 of the PFMA): statement of receipts and payments per province, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 87389aabde0c…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.