Government budget and revenue in Northern Cape, South Africa: official figures
The Northern Cape provincial government spent R23.3 billion in 2025/26, 98.5% of its adjusted budget of R23.6 billion and about R16,863 per resident; the highest of the nine provinces per person (2.9% of all provincial spending).
How much money does Northern Cape get from national government?
Northern Cape is allocated R18.2 billion from the national equitable share in 2026/27, up 4.6% on 2025/26, about R13,227 per resident (the highest of the nine provinces). The National Treasury projects R19.8 billion by 2028/29.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhere does the Northern Cape provincial government get its money?
Of the R23.5 billion the province received in 2025/26, 73.8% came from the equitable share, 23.6% from conditional grants and 2.6% (R0.6 billion) from its own revenue such as vehicle licence fees.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhat does the Northern Cape provincial government spend its money on?
Education and health together took 70% of spending, and staff pay 58% (R13.5 billion).
Source: National Treasury · saved copyDoes Northern Cape spend its infrastructure budget?
The province spent R1.5 billion on buildings, roads, equipment and other capital assets in 2025/26, 95.0% of its adjusted capital budget, 3rd highest of the nine provinces.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyHow Northern Cape compares with other provinces
Provincial government spending per resident (2025/26)
Northern Cape ranks 1 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 Northern 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…)
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