WC budget: Provincial govt allocated R93.5bn for 2026/27

The Western Cape government will spend R285.8 billion over the next three years, with R93.5 billion allocated for the 2026/2027 financial year.

Under the theme "Delivering growth with discipline and care", Western Cape MEC for Finance Deidré Baartman tabled the budget in the Western Cape Parliament on Thursday.

Baartman said the budget outlines how the province plans to accelerate economic growth while safeguarding public services amid rising climate and economic pressures.

She said a major focus of the province's budget is growth and jobs.

Baartman said R36 billion will be allocated to strengthen water security, energy resilience, agriculture, tourism, job creation, and critical infrastructure.

The MEC said R8.5 billion will be allocated for safety and crime prevention initiatives in the province.

"We will allocate R6 million for our anti-gang hub and rollout a SAPS [South African Police Service] detective capacity pilot, which aims to strengthen case detection analysis and gang-related investigations."

Baartman said close to R950 million has been set aside for drought relief, water and energy resilience, animal disease outbreaks, and wildfires.