Social benefits, payroll drives up government's spending

The figures assess government's cash payments across seven categories: compensation to employees; purchases of goods and services; interest; subsidies; grants; social benefits and "other" payments. Grants worth R468,9-billion were paid, followed by social benefits of R91,4-billion and compensation to employees of R87-billion, Business Live, Fin24 and Business Report report.

For More:

• Business Live Social grants weigh heavily on government coffers

• Fin24: Social grants weighing on govt coffers

• Business Report: Social grants drag on state coffers

• Statistics South Africa: Stats Online