SA hard at work but education spending the lowest

Electricity, roads and rail were the biggest movers in 2024

- By Mzwandile kaBizokwakhe

South Africa’s public-sector spending on infrastructure has continued an upward trajectory, rising to R276-billion last year from R234-billion in 2023. This is the third successive year that the country has increased its public sector capital investments, according to a Stats SA report released on Friday.

However, a detailed breakdown reveals a stark disparity in where this money is being allocated, with higher education institutions receiving the smallest share of all.

The latest Capital Expenditure by the Public Sector survey, which covers 748 institutions, including national and provincial governments, municipalities and public corporations, shows a nation hard at work rebuilding its economic backbone. The biggest movers in 2024 were the essential networks of electricity, rail and roads.