The national debt totals R844-billion, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan said in a written reply to a Parliamentary question, tabled on Tuesday.

"National government debt, provisions and contingent liabilities amount to R844-billion," he said.

According to a table included in the reply, short-term loans totalled R92,4-billion, domestic long-term loans R503,4-billion, and foreign long-term loans R88,5-billion, giving a gross loan debt on July 31 this year of R684,3-billion.

This was offset by National Revenue Fund cash balances of R85,1-billion, resulting in a net loan debt of R599,2-billion.

Provisions on March 31, including unpaid subscriptions to multilateral institutions, totalled R57,1-billion.

Contingent liabilities on March 31 totalled R187,7-billion. This amount included the Road Accident Fund (R42,5-billion) and "post-retirement medical assistance" of R56-billion.