Budget pressures for Gauteng: Analysis of the 2025/26 MTBPS

This interactive visualisation explains the growing fiscal strain facing the Gauteng Provincial Government by analysing data from the 2025/26 Budget and the mid‑year Medium‑Term Budget Policy Statement. It is designed to help users understand the fiscal context in which the province is planning and spending. The visualisation shows how weak national economic growth and fiscal consolidation are limiting the resources available to provinces, including Gauteng. It highlights that Gauteng’s share of nationally raised revenue is growing slowly, despite the province’s large population and economic contribution. The analysis compares projected provincial spending with inflation and population growth rates and shows that budget growth is expected to fall behind both. This means that, in real terms, government departments may have less money per person to deliver services. The visualisation explores how these pressures play out across different provincial departments, with particular attention to large service areas such as health and education. It also outlines the budgeting principles set out in the Gauteng MTBPS, including attempts to protect frontline services under tight fiscal conditions. Overall, the interactive tool demonstrates that Gauteng faces sustained budget pressure over the medium term, with a real risk of declining service capacity if economic and fiscal conditions do not improve.

Abstract based on original source.