Western Cape MPLs debated the mini-budget on Thursday A shock R1.07bn windfall from national government has forced the Western Cape to tear up and rework more than R2.3bn in its budget as it scrambles to fund strained hospitals, crowded schools and storm-hit roads. The money landed after national finance minister Enoch Godongwana and his team pushed through late-year adjustments for provinces, leaving the Western Cape racing to fit the allocations into its books while dealing with rising pressure on basic services. The province’s economy is expected to grow by 1.2% in 2025, almost double the national forecast of 0.7%.
The province’s total spending now rises from R87.99bn to R89.72bn for the year. This is driven by national grant top-ups, extra equitable share funding, R924m in rollovers for delayed national transfers and ongoing projects and shifts between departments for shared services such as infrastructure and school sport delivery. The mini budget for the2025/26 financial year as well as the adjustment for the current budget, which was tabled by finance MEC Deidré Baartman in the Western Cape provincial legislature last week, was debated on Thursday.
2025/26 financial year as well as the adjustment for the current budget But whether it will be passed is another story as the house will only vote on the mini budget on Friday. A major share of the revised funding comes from the R1.07bn national allocation. This includes about R496.51m in conditional grants and R573.50m in equitable share adjustments. Early childhood development receives the biggest increase, with R232.05m to raise subsidies and widen access to early learning.
