Government budget and revenue in Western Cape, South Africa: official figures
The Western Cape provincial government spent R89.2 billion in 2025/26, 99.3% of its adjusted budget of R89.8 billion and about R11,689 per resident; 2nd lowest of the nine provinces per person (11.0% of all provincial spending).
How much money does Western Cape get from national government?
Western Cape is allocated R69.6 billion from the national equitable share in 2026/27, up 4.4% on 2025/26, about R9,118 per resident (2nd lowest of the nine provinces). The National Treasury projects R75.3 billion by 2028/29.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhere does the Western Cape provincial government get its money?
Of the R86.6 billion the province received in 2025/26, 76.6% came from the equitable share, 19.4% from conditional grants and 4.0% (R3.5 billion) from its own revenue such as vehicle licence fees.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyWhat does the Western Cape provincial government spend its money on?
Education and health together took 73% of spending, and staff pay 54% (R47.7 billion).
Source: National Treasury · saved copyDoes Western Cape spend its infrastructure budget?
The province spent R7.7 billion on buildings, roads, equipment and other capital assets in 2025/26, 98.0% of its adjusted capital budget, the highest of the nine provinces.
Source: National Treasury · saved copyHow Western Cape compares with other provinces
Provincial government spending per resident (2025/26)
Western Cape ranks 8 of 9, highest first. Actual 2025/26 spending divided by the 2025 mid-year population estimate
| Rank | Region | Provincial government spending per resident |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Eastern Cape | R14,416 |
| 4 | Limpopo | R14,013 |
| 5 | North West | R13,595 |
| 6 | KwaZulu-Natal | R13,222 |
| 7 | Mpumalanga | R13,207 |
| 8 | Western Cape | R11,689 |
| 9 | Gauteng | R10,830 |
More on Western 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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