06/28/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 06/28/2024 07:30
The South African national government spent R2,04 trillion1 in the 2022/23 financial year, representing a rise of 6,1% from R1,92 trillion in 2021/22. Stats SA's latest set of national government financial data shows how these funds were distributed.
Just over half of total expenses in 2022/23 was allocated to grants paid to other levels of government, institutions and foreign governments (Figure 1). Not to be confused with social grants, this line item represents financial transfers that flow from national government to these institutions. This is not surprising, as one of the tasks of national government is to collect funds (mainly from taxes) and to redistribute these funds to other sectors of the economy.
How are grants allocated?
Grants accounted for R1,12 trillion in 2022/23. Provincial government was the main beneficiary, receiving almost two-thirds (or R694 billion). South Africa's provincial government departments are responsible for various functions, most notably health and education.
Extra-budgetary accounts & funds - public institutions that are responsible for delivering services to the public on behalf of government - received R180 billion (or 16%) of grants, followed by local government (R151 billion or 13%). Examples of extra-budgetary accounts & funds include the Road Accident Fund, the South African Revenue Service and the Unemployment Insurance Fund.
Higher education institutions and foreign governments received less than R50 billion (or 4%) each. International institutions benefitted from R4 billion (or 0,4%).
The rise in interest paid on debt
As seen in Figure 1, the contribution of interest paid on debt increased from 10% in 2014/15 to 15% in 2022/23. In fact, in rand terms, interest paid on debt more than doubled in the 2014/15 to 2022/23 period, from R114,8 billion to R308,5 billion. This represents an average growth rate of 13,2% per year2, outstripping the rise in total expenses (up 7,2% per year) and all other expense items shown in Figure 1.
What are social benefits?
Social benefits represented the third largest line item in 2022/23 after grants and interest paid on debt, accounting for R242,4 billion. The bulk (96,7%) of this allocation was for the country's social grant programme, funding household grants for child support, old-age, sickness & disability, as well as others. The remaining 3,3% was for employment-related social benefits.
Since 2014/15, the social benefit allocation has grown by an average of 8,8% per year.
More government financial statistics on the way
The financial statistics covered in this article only represent data collected from national government, which forms a part of the broader general government. The general government comprises national, provincial, local, extra-budgetary accounts & funds and institutions of higher learning. Stats SA publishes separate financial reports on each of these during the year. A consolidated report will be released in November, providing a complete overview of South African government revenue and expenditure.3
Do you want to know more about the figures covered in this article? Download the Financial statistics of national government statistical report for 2022/23 here.
1 The R2,04 trillion excludes capital expenditure and represents expense cash flows recorded by all 42 national government departments. The financial year covers the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023.
2 Calculated using the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR).
3 Reports are scheduled to be published for extra-budgetary accounts & funds in August, provincial government in September, higher education institutions in October, and consolidated general government in November.
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Economic StatsJoe de Beer (Deputy Director-General)012 310 8024 082 888 2600 [email protected] Peter Perkins (Economist) 012 310 8389 082 883 9532 [email protected] |
Social StatsGwen Lehloenya (Acting Deputy Director-General)012 310 8333 082 888 2323 [email protected] Neo Nghenavo (Director) 012 310 8047 082 888 2613 [email protected] |
Topic | Contact | Alternative Contact |
Consumer price index (CPI), Producer price index (PPI), Unit value indices: exports / imports, Construction materials price indices |
Patrick Kelly (Chief Director) 012 310 8290 082 888 2248 [email protected] |
Marietjie Bennett (Director) 012 310 8077 082 888 2194 [email protected] |
Government finance: national and provincial government |
Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 [email protected] |
Elizabeth Makhafola (Director) 012 310 8977 082 888 9062 [email protected] |
Government finance: local government |
Moses Mnyaka (Chief Director) 012 310 8984 / 8586 083 471 3531 [email protected] |
Malibongwe Mhemhe (Director) 012 310 6928 082 906 8964 [email protected] |
Supply and use tables, Satellite accounts, Regional GDP |
Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 [email protected] |
|
Gross domestic product (GDP), production |
Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 [email protected] |
Bontlenyana Makhoba(Chief Economist) 012 310 8567 [email protected] |
Gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure |
Michael Manamela (Chief Director) 012 310 8520 082 888 2205 [email protected] |
Litshani Ligudu (Director) 012 310 4674 082 884 4279 [email protected] |
Environmental-economic accounts |
Gerhardt Bouwer (Chief Director) 012 310 8241 082 888 2409 [email protected] |
Riaan Grobler (Director) 012 406 3474 084 515 2908 [email protected] |
Mining, manufacturing, electricity, capacity utilisation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 [email protected] |
Nicolai Claassen (Director) 012 310 8007 076 759 0200 [email protected] |
Retail, wholesale, motor, land transport |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 [email protected] |
Keshnee Naidoo (Director) 012 310 8423 083 689 5341 [email protected] |
Building, liquidations, civil cases for debt, food & beverages, tourist accommodation |
Hlabi Morudu (Chief Director) 012 310 8377 082 317 8531 [email protected] |
Joyce Essel-Mensah (Director) 012 310 8255 082 888 2374 [email protected] |
Annual financial statistics (AFS) |
Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 [email protected] |
Amukelani Ngobeni (Director) 012 310 2938 082 677 4536 [email protected] |
Quarterly financial statistics (QFS) |
Sagaren Pillay (Chief Director) 012 310 4619 082 905 2665 [email protected] |
Krisseelan Govinden (Director) 012 310 4651 082 901 7960 [email protected] |
Structural industry statistics (large sample surveys of industries every 3 to 5 years; agriculture) |
Itani Magwaba (Chief Director) 012 337 6471 / 6254 082 905 5143 [email protected] |
Tshepo Pekane (Director) 012 310 8191 083 675 8654 [email protected] |
Population Statistics (Census and Community Survey) |
Christine Khoza (Chief Director) 012 310 2185 071 670 2672 [email protected] |
Angela Ngyende (Chief Statistician) 012 310 4699 079 519 3212 [email protected] |
Demography-Mid-year Population Estimates |
Diego Iturralde (Chief Director) 012 310 8922 082 413 2661 [email protected] |
Chantal Munthree (Chief Statistician) 012 310 6648 082 888 2289 [email protected] |
Labour Statistics- Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS) |
Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 [email protected] |
Desiree Manamela (Director) 012 310 2145 071 681 2768 [email protected] Malerato Mosiane (Chief Statistician) 012 310 8688 082 888 2449 [email protected] |
Quarterly Employment Statistics (QES) |
Malerato Mosiane (Acting Chief Director) 012 310 8688 082 8882449 [email protected] |
Matlapane Masupye (Acting Director) 012 310 8168 082 317 5340 [email protected] |
Tourism Statistics (Domestic Tourism Survey) |
Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 [email protected] |
Brenda Mosima (Director) 012 310 8168 082 906 7925 [email protected] |
Crime and Safety Statistics (Victims of Crime Survey) |
Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 [email protected] |
Joseph Lukhwareni (Director) 012 310 8485 082 888 2486 [email protected] |
Service Delivery Statistics (General Household Survey) |
Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 [email protected] |
Niel Roux (Director) 012 310 2939 082 904 7919 [email protected] |
Transport Statistics (National Travel Survey) |
Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 [email protected] |
Solly Molayi (Director) 012 310 6442 083 440 7035 [email protected] |
Gender Statistics |
Isabel Schmidt (Chief Director ) 012 337 6379 082 884 4281 [email protected] |
Tshepo Mabela (Director) 012 310 8587 082 941 9383 [email protected] |
Mortality and Causes of Deaths |
Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. [email protected] |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 [email protected] |
Tourism and Migration |
Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. [email protected] |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 [email protected] |
Registered Births |
Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. [email protected] |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 [email protected] |
Marriages and Divorces |
Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. [email protected] |
Ramadimetja Matji(Director) 012 406 33011 071 670 3272 [email protected] |
Living Conditions Survey |
Rika du Plessis (Acting Chief Director) Health and Vital Statistics 012 310 2913 .. [email protected] |
Thabo Molebatsi(Director) 012 310 4857 060 997 8372 [email protected] |
Income and Expenditure Survey |
Nozipho Shabalala (Chief Director ) 012 310 6994 082 904 8896 [email protected] |
Werner Ruch (Director) 012 310 6318 082 906 7967 [email protected] |
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