By Anita Dangazele
- Education gets R47.2-billion and health gets R32.9-billion, the two biggest shares of the Eastern Cape’s new R105-billion budget for 2026/2027.
- MEC Mvoko warned that irregular and wasteful spending threatens services, as the province draws R2.7-billion from reserves over three years.
Eastern Cape finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko tabled a R105-billion budget at the provincial legislature in Bhisho on Friday.
Mvoko said the budget follows priorities set by Premier Oscar Mabuyane in the State of the Province Address. The province’s biggest challenge is high unemployment.
Education received the biggest share, with the Department of Education getting R47.2-billion. The Department of Health will receive R32.9-billion in 2026/2027 and R101.8-billion over the medium term.
The health money will cover medicines, laboratory services, emergency medical services and other health programmes across the province.
The Department of Social Development will get R3.2-billion to support services for older people, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The province will spend R9-billion on infrastructure projects to improve basic services for residents.
To help grow jobs, the provincial government will spend more than R120-million through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation. The agency supports small businesses and cooperatives. The provincial government will add a further R352.7-million to the corporation over three years.
The government has set aside R10.5-million over three years for audiovisual production, R17-million to fund telenovela production through the Eastern Cape Provincial Arts and Culture Council in 2026/2027, and R21-million for film development through the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
The province has also created a R50-million Economic Development Fund to support major projects and help small businesses access funding.
Mvoko warned that irregular, fruitless and wasteful spending threatens frontline services. Departments must manage their budgets carefully, he said.
The province will draw R2.7-billion from its reserves over three years to deal with spending pressures.
Mvoko said the Eastern Cape economy grew by just 0.7% in 2023 and shrank by 0.2% in 2024. He said growth could improve to about 2.2% by 2027 if the province invests in infrastructure and supports key sectors such as agriculture, tourism, the ocean economy and automotive manufacturing.
Pictured above: Eastern Cape finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko delivering the 2026/2027 budget speech at the provincial legislature in Bhisho on Friday.
Image source: Eastern Cape Office of the Premier
