Health and education will continue to dominate spending in the Eastern Cape after the provincial government allocated more than R80 billion to the two sectors in the 2026/27 financial year. Tabling the provincial budget, Finance MEC Mlungisi Mvoko announced that education will once again receive the largest share of the provincial budget, with R47.2 billion allocated to the Department of Education.
Mvoko said the funding reflects the province s commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that schools are adequately resourced. A significant portion of the allocation will fund 52,817 educator posts across the province, ensuring that schools remain staffed and capable of delivering quality education to learners. The education budget will also support key programmes aimed at improving learner welfare and academic performance. Government has set aside R1.9 billion for the National School Nutrition Programme, which provides daily meals to learners in public schools. A further R1.7 billion will support Early Childhood Development and Grade R programmes, strengthening the foundation phase of education. Additional funding will provide learning and teaching support materials for schools, new furniture, and programmes aimed at improving learner outcomes. The province has allocated R702.5 million to the Learner Attainment Improvement Strategy, which focuses on boosting academic performance and strengthening results across the education system.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has been allocated R32.9 billion for the 2026/27 financial year to strengthen healthcare services across the Eastern Cape. MEC Mvoko said the funding will ensure the continued delivery of essential healthcare services and help address operational pressures facing the provincial health system. The allocation will support district health programmes that provide HIV testing services, antiretroviral treatment, tuberculosis care, vaccines and community-based healthcare services.
The health budget also provides funding for tertiary and specialised hospitals, laboratory services, medicines and emergency medical services to ensure that facilities across the province remain functional and responsive to patient needs. In addition, government has set aside R956.3 million to support the employment of doctors and address staffing pressures in the health sector, a move aimed at strengthening frontline healthcare services and improving access to medical care.
MEC Mvoko said the province has also directed additional funding to the two sectors to ensure that essential services are protected despite ongoing fiscal pressures. He noted that the provincial budget includes R1.2 billion in additional allocations to support health and education services. The MEC emphasised that investing in education and healthcare remains central to the province s development agenda, as these sectors play a critical role in improving the quality of life for residents while building the human capital needed for long-term economic growth.
