# Economist Dawie Roodt says South Africa is entrenching a culture of state dependency rather than fostering economic self-reliance and growth. In the 2025/2026 budget tabled by Finance minister Enoch Godongwana last month, consolidated government expenditure is expected to hit 2.59-trillion-rand. Around 65-percent of government spending is consumed by salaries, debt-service costs, and the social grant ecosystem. Roodt says rebalancing the budget through reduced current expenditure, a lower tax burden, and improved state efficiency is necessary.
Economist warns that SA’s spending pattern poses severe long-term economic instability