Media release                                                                                                                                20 November 2018

Financial statistics of consolidated general government, 2016/2017

The Financial statistics of consolidated general government, 2016/2017 (statistical release P9119.4) published by Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) today, shows that South Africa’s consolidated general government had a total revenue of R1,43 trillion from operating activities in the fiscal year ended 31 March 2017. This was R78,8 billion higher than the revenue received in the 2015/2016 fiscal year (R1,35 trillion). The increase in revenue was largely due to an increase in taxes collected. The largest contributor to total cash receipts from operating activities for the 2016/2017 fiscal year was taxes (R1,23 trillion).

Between 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 fiscal years, receipts from taxes, on a cash basis, increased by R105,5 billion, from R1,13 trillion in 2015/2016 to R1,23 trillion in 2016/2017. This was mainly due to an increase in taxes paid by individuals and corporations and other enterprises. Other receipts, such as incidental sales by non-market establishments and property income, received by the general government in 2016/2017 amounted to R165, 5 billion, which is R26,2 billion less as compared to 2015/2016 (R191,7 billion).

The total cash payments for operating activities by consolidated general government increased by R75,4 billion, from R1,33 trillion in 2015/2016 to R1,45 trillion in 2016/2017. The largest contributor to cash payments was ‘compensation of employees’, which amounted to R601,7 billion, having increased by R44,1 billion from R557,5 billion in 2015/2016.

Cash payments for purchases of goods and services, such as medical inventories and property maintenance increased by R26, 5 billion, from R297,5 billion in 2015/2016 to R324,1 billion in 2016/2017. Capital expenditure by the general government decreased by 3,1%, from R140 billion in 2015/16 to R136 billion in 2016/17.

The full statistical release is available on the Stats SA’s website: www.statssa.gov.za

Ends.

Issued by Statistics South Africa

For technical enquiries:

Dr Patrick Naidoo

Chief Director: Government Financial Statistics

Tel: (012) 310 8307

Cell: 082 888 2509

Email: PatrickN@statssa.gov.za

Ms Elizabeth Makhafola

Director: National and Provincial Government Institutions

Tel: (012) 310 8977

Cell: 082 888 9062

Email: ElizabethMa@statssa.gov.za

Media enquiries:

Ms Lesedi Dibakwane

Director: Media Relations

Tel: (012) 310 8578

Cell: 082 805 7088

Email: LesediD@statssa.gov.za