South Africa: Godongwana Puts R848-Billion Behind Police and Army to Fight Crime

South African Treasury
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile greet Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana before he tabled the Budget today.
26 February 2026
Scrolla (Johannesburg)
By Dylan Bettencourt
  • The Border Management Authority gets an extra R990-million to hire 738 new staff and strengthen border control across South Africa.
  • The police and the South African National Defence Force each get R1-billion through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account fund.

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has set aside R848.2-billion over the next few years for peace, security and border protection in South Africa.

Godongwana told Parliament on Wednesday that spending on peace and security would grow from R268.2-billion in 2025/26 to R291.2-billion in 2028/29.

The Border Management Authority gets an extra R990-million to hire 738 new staff and make border control stronger.

Defence gets an additional R2.7-billion to keep operations running. That includes maintaining the South African Air Force's fighter capability.

The police and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) each get R1-billion through the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (Cara) fund to fight organised crime.

The courts also get more money. An extra R687-million goes toward increasing capacity in the judiciary.

A further R883.8-million moves from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development to the Office of the Chief Justice. From 1 April, the Office of the Chief Justice will control its own budget, independent from the executive.

Parliament is set to receive similar treatment in line with the separation of powers.

Read the original article on Scrolla.

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