BLOEMFONTEIN – While the R47.9 billion that was budgeted for the Free State for the 2026-’27 financial year looks substantial on paper, the budget fails to meet the real needs of residents.

This is the opinion of Dulandi Leech, the DA spokesperson on finance in the Free State Legislator.

“While the budget appears substantial, it risks further weakening service delivery and economic growth.

“The budget comprises R9.8 billion in conditional grants, R1.2 billion in own revenue, and R36.7 billion from the equitable share. However, the overall increase of just 2.5% falls short of the current inflation rate of 3.5%, resulting in a 1% decrease in real terms. This shortfall will inevitably place additional strain on already stretched departments.”

Leech notes that 78.3% of the budget has been allocated to the social services cluster, with education and health receiving the largest shares. “While these sectors are critical, the DA is concerned that only 17.8% has been directed toward the economic cluster, and a mere 3.9% toward governance.

“This imbalance limits the province’s ability to stimulate growth and create jobs. The allocation of R658 million to the Office of the Premier, compared to R339 million for the Legislature, raises serious concerns. The Legislature plays a vital oversight role over the executive, and this disparity undermines its ability to hold the government accountable effectively.

Further concern arises from the continued spending on the Community Development Workers (CDW) programme under the Office of the Premier. Over R100 million is being budgeted for this financial year. This is despite repeated issues in the Department with underspending and little improvement in reporting and financial management. The DA remains concerned that the CDW programme is politically loaded for electioneering purposes.

Key service delivery departments, including Community Safety, Roads and Transport, and Public Works and Infrastructure, remain significantly underfunded. These departments are not only essential for service delivery but are also critical drivers of economic activity and revenue generation. Their underfunding will have long-term negative consequences for the province.

In the agricultural sector, the additional allocation of only R5 million to address foot-and-mouth disease is wholly inadequate. This disease poses a serious threat to the agricultural economy. The limited funding raises doubts about the province’s ability to contain and manage outbreaks effectively.

The DA believes that unlocking sustainable economic growth requires the province to prioritise increasing its own revenue. The province must also secure a larger equitable share. This requires targeted investment in infrastructure and the reliable provision of essential services such as water. Without these fundamentals in place, the province will struggle to attract investment, create jobs, and grow its revenue base.

The DA will continue to advocate for a budget that prioritises economic growth, strengthens oversight, and ensures that every rand is spent effectively to improve the lives of residents.