By Precious Mupenzi

• Social protection is repositioned as a catalyst for economic inclusion, resilience, and sustainable development, rather than a narrow welfare intervention.
• Government reinforces its commitment to reducing poverty and the cost of living through Strategic Priority 2 of the Medium-Term Development Plan.
• Digital innovation, governance reforms, and partnerships are central to modernising social assistance and strengthening long-term impact.

Social protection is increasingly being positioned as a powerful lever for inclusive development, economic participation, and long-term resilience. Emphasising this shift, Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe, told Parliament that “social protection must not only respond to poverty, but drive development, resilience and economic inclusion” when she presented the Social Development Portfolio’s 2026/27 Strategic Plans, Annual Performance Plans, and Budget to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on Wednesday, 29 April 2026.

Addressing the Committee, Minister Tolashe outlined how the Department of Social Development(DSD), the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), and the National Development Agency (NDA) are advancing a more integrated, developmental approach. This approach is designed to move beyond immediate relief by tackling inequality and enabling communities to build resilience and long-term self-reliance.

The plans presented to Parliament reflect a deliberate shift from viewing social protection purely as a welfare mechanism to recognising it as a catalyst for inclusive growth and social justice. This positioning aligns with the priorities of the 7th Administration and the National Development Plan.

Minister Tolashe said the Social Development Portfolio’s programmes continue to respond to rising social needs, while adapting to a complex environment shaped by global uncertainty, fiscal pressures, and persistent social challenges such as gender-based violence, substance abuse, unemployment and teenage pregnancy.

Central to the presentation was government’s commitment to Strategic Priority 2 of the Medium-Term Development Plan, which focuses on reducing poverty and tackling the high cost of living. The Minister accentuated this priority as core to the social development mandate.

The engagement also reflected a strong emphasis on innovation and systems reform. SASSA’s strategic direction includes expanding the use of automation and digital technologies to enhance customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and protect the integrity of the social assistance system through anti-fraud and cybersecurity measures.

As SASSA marks 20 years of delivering social assistance, the milestone is framed not only as a reflection on progress but also as an opportunity to modernise social protection for the future. Since its establishment in 2006, the number of social grant beneficiaries has grown from approximately 11 million to nearly 19 million beneficiaries, demonstrating both the scale and significance of the programme.

The extension of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant until March 2027 was also contextualised within a broader policy trajectory toward Basic Income Support, with the Department expected to finalise proposals for Cabinet consideration.

Beyond income support, the plans emphasise the importance of development partnerships in building sustainable livelihoods. Through the NDA, government aims to sharpen the impact of civil society and community-based development as part of a broader shift from relief to empowerment.

Minister Tolashe further highlighted ongoing governance reforms within the portfolio, including organisational strengthening and efforts to build a capable, ethical and developmental state. These reforms are supported by technical input from the Auditor-General to improve the robustness of the plans.

The presentation to Parliament signals a sharpened focus on positioning social protection not merely as a safety net, but as a platform for human development, dignity and inclusive progress.

In this framing, social development is increasingly recognised not as a peripheral function, but as a central driver of South Africa’s broader economic and social transformation.