Billions alloted but few results

Each year, South Africans listen to thenational budget speech, hoping that billions allocated to public services will translate into meaningful improvements. On paper, the 2026 budget looks promising. More than a third of the national budget is earmarked for health and education, sectors that are critical to societal wellbeing and national development.

Yet for millions who rely on the services, the results are often invisible. At Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, patients sometimes sit on the floor in the emergency unit because there are not enough beds. Nurses and doctors move from one case to the next with, barely a moment to pause.

Essential equipment is limited and patients wait for hours, some in visible distress, before receiving care. The hospital is not an isolated case. It reflects broader systemic constraints in public healthcare that persist across provinces.

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Public schools present a similar challenge. In rural and township communities, learners attend overcrowded classrooms, often under leaking roofs. Toilets remain non-functional for weeks or months and many girls lack access to dignified sanitation or clean water.

Teachers work under considerable strain, trying to deliver lessons in spaces that are unsafe and poorly resourced. Despite billions allocated in the national budget, the basic infrastructure deficits continue to persist. If more than a third of the national budget goes to the essential services, why are South Africans experiencing such acute deficiencies in health and education?

Where is the money going and why is progress so limited? The issue is not solely about funding. Leadership, accountability and transparency are equally important.

This is where Decode’s Sixth AnnualX Reportbecomes relevant. The report tracks how government leaders use X, formerly Twitter and highlights a concerning pattern. Ministries often use the platform as a one-way broadcast channel rather than a tool for engagement and accountability.

Citizens post complaints, share images and videos of systemic failures and ask for explanations. Responses from government leaders are limited, often generic and non-committal. Decode’s analysis shows that ministries responsible for health and education are among the least active in engaging with citizen concerns.

The digital absence reflects broader accountability gaps offline. Civil society organisations such as Equal Education and Section27 have long documented systemic failures. Their research highlights unsafe classrooms, broken sanitation, overcrowded schools and hospitals lacking critical staff, medicines and equipment.

Legal action, advocacy campaigns and public reporting have helped draw attention to the issues. Yet improvements remain slow and uneven. Billions are allocated in the budget but results on the ground remain minimal.

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