The Gauteng Provincial Government has unveiled a R527.2 billion budget for the 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), designed to respond to the province’s changing needs while promoting inclusive development and improving public services.
Delivering the 2025 Budget Speech at the Gauteng Legislature on Tuesday, Finance MEC Lebogang Maile reaffirmed the province’s commitment to efficient, citizen-focused service delivery. Drawing from remarks by National Treasury Minister Enoch Godongwana, Maile noted that budgets often reflect past allocations without aligning with current realities. The 2025 budget, however, aims to break that trend by focusing on present-day priorities.
Budget Growth and Strategic Focus
The budget is set to grow at an average annual rate of 3%, moving from R171.5 billion in 2025/26 to R175.1 billion in 2026/27, and reaching R180.5 billion in 2027/28. However, all provincial departments will face baseline budget reductions, a necessary measure to manage a declining Provincial Equitable Share and to address the province’s budget deficit.
Despite these constraints, Maile emphasised the provincial government’s unwavering commitment to critical sectors that stimulate economic growth and enhance residents’ quality of life.
Key Departmental Allocations
Significant funding has been directed towards essential services and development-focused departments in the 2025/26 financial year:
- Office of the Premier: R1.5 billion to drive the implementation of the 2024–2029 Gauteng Medium-Term Development Plan.
- Health: R66 billion to modernise healthcare infrastructure and improve service delivery, especially in underserved areas.
- Education: R69.6 billion to improve access to quality education and support early childhood development, with a focus on vulnerable communities.
- Economic Development: R1.6 billion to enhance investment and develop economic infrastructure, particularly in townships and peri-urban areas.
- Human Settlements: R5.8 billion to expand access to inclusive housing and stimulate job creation through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
- Roads and Transport: R9.7 billion to improve transport infrastructure, safety, and reliability.
- Community Safety: R2.4 billion to strengthen policing and promote public safety across the province.
- Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation: R1 billion in 2025/26 (R3.1 billion over the MTEF) to integrate sport and arts into community development, promote cultural programmes, and support school-based extracurricular activities. The department also plans to attract national and international events to boost the province’s cultural economy.
Infrastructure and Technology Investment
To expand digital access, the Gauteng Department of e-Government will receive R1.5 billion to strengthen ICT infrastructure, particularly through the Gauteng Provincial Network. This includes the rollout of additional Wi-Fi hotspots in townships and the installation of CCTV cameras to support crime prevention.
The Department of Infrastructure Development will benefit from R3.6 billion to revitalise central business districts and ensure the completion of key government precinct developments, transforming urban spaces into economic hubs.
Supporting Sustainability and Youth Employment
The budget also addresses the province’s long-term sustainability goals. R3 billion has been allocated over the MTEF to manage public sector wage agreements, and a once-off R207 million will go toward the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, specifically funding the teacher assistant programme.
In the agricultural sector, the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is set to receive R2 billion to rejuvenate farming activities and support small and medium agro-processing enterprises—part of the broader drive to unlock the province’s economic potential.
Maile concluded by stating that strategic investment across high-impact sectors remains central to Gauteng’s vision of job creation, inclusive development, and improved service delivery.
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