South Africa's provinces have spent R28.4-billion, or 92.2%, of their R30.8-billion capital budgets in the 2012/13 financial year – an increase of 9.1% on the previous financial year, the National Treasury reported on Thursday.

The lowest rate of capital expenditure was seen in the North West at 70.5% and Gauteng at 75.6%, while the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) overspent their capital budgets at 118.2% and 104.4%, respectively.

In absolute terms, KZN spent the most, with a total capital spending of R8.6-billion, followed by Gauteng at R3.5-billion and the Western Cape at R3.3-billion.

The biggest share of provincial capital budgets was for public works, roads and transport departments, which spent R9.8-billion, or 100%, of their combined budgets.

Provincial capital spending on education had increased by 11.2% year-on-year, with R8-billion, or 90.9%, of the budgeted R8.8-billion budget spent.

Provincial health departments’ capital expenditure rose 1.4% to R8.3-billion, or 85.5% of the budgeted R8.8-billion, with the Northern Cape and KZN overspending slightly during 2012/13. The lowest rate of health capital spending occurred in Gauteng at 52.1% and the Free State at 72.6%.

OVERALL PROVINCIAL SPEND

South Africa’s provinces combined spent R395-billion – 98.1% – of their main budgets of R402.6-billion during the 2012/13 financial year. This is 7.2% higher than the R368.3-billion spent in the prior year.

The North West recorded the lowest rate of spending for the year, accounting for 95.1% of its R26.9-billion budget, followed by the Northern Cape, which spent 95.3% of its R11.7-billion budget.

Education expenditure collectively reached 98.7% of the R168.2-billion provincial education budget – up 6.1% on the prior year – while aggregate provincial health expenditure increased 9.8% to R122.6-billion, or 99.3% of the budget.

Health accounted for the second-largest provincial budget allocation after education.

The provinces recording the highest total budget were included KZN spending 99.5% of an R86.1-billion budget – 9% higher than the prior year - and Mpumalanga, reaching 99.3% of its allocated R31.5-billion.

Gauteng spent 98.8% of its R74.6-billion budget, while the Western Cape spent 99.2% of its R40.2-billion budget.

The Eastern Cape spent R55.9-billion, or 97.4%, of its budget, while the Free State reported expenditure of R25.6-billion – 98.9% of its R25.9-billion budget.

The report also noted that the provinces collected revenue of R13.3-billion, an increase from the R11.9-billion outlined in the budget.