By Cuma Pantshwa.

• The Social Development Budget Vote for 2025/2026, presented to the National Council of Provinces, is about much more than the numbers – it is about wiping away the hunger and fear on children’s faces and lifting the despair of poverty from caregivers’ shoulders.
• It provides for R294-billion to protect the most vulnerable.
• Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, reminded the council that the work of social development is rooted in a promise to protect the most vulnerable, strengthen families, and confront poverty head-on.

The Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, has tabled Budget Vote 19 for the 2025/2026 financial year before the National Council of Provinces, calling for a united effort to restore trust, deepen impact and reignite the role of the family in building an inclusive and caring society.

Delivered on the first anniversary of the seventh administration under the Government of National Unity, the budget is themed “Restoring trust, deepening impact: Reigniting the role of the family in a renewed commitment to dignity and inclusion.”

“This budget is not just about numbers,” Minister Tolashe declared to the House on 16 July 2025. “It is about wiping away the hunger and fear on children’s faces, lifting the despair of poverty from caregivers’ shoulders, and leaving no child behind.”

Marking the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the Minister reminded the House that the work of social development is rooted in a promise to protect the most vulnerable, strengthen families, and confront poverty head-on.

R294-billion to protect the vulnerable

Highlights of Budget Vote 19 include:
•⁠ ⁠R284-billion for monthly direct transfers to children, older persons, and persons with disabilities.
•⁠ ⁠R34.9-billion to continue the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress until March 2026.
•⁠ ⁠R216-million for the National Development Agency to support civil society and community-owned enterprises.
•⁠ ⁠R102-million to accelerate the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, with a total allocation of over R800 million when provinces are included.
•⁠ ⁠Over R200-million earmarked to strengthen the fight against fraud and corruption.

Putting families and children first

To break cycles of violence and poverty, the Department of Social Development will roll out the Sinovuyo Teenage Parenting Programme in districts identified as teenage pregnancy hotspots, in Joe Gqabi, OR Tambo, Amathole, Alfred Nzo and Chris Hani in the Eastern Cape, and uMkhanyakude and Ugu in KwaZulu-Natal.

The Children’s Amendment Bill, already presented to Cabinet, aims to strengthen the child protection system, expand prevention and early intervention services, and ensure better inclusion of children with disabilities.

“It takes a village to raise a child,” Minister Tolashe said, urging the National Council of the Provinces to unite behind this mission.

Protecting older persons

The Older Persons Amendment Bill is now before the president to strengthen the rights and protection of senior citizens. The department will continue partnering with the South African Older Persons Forum and expand active ageing programmes to promote dignity and healthy living.

SASSA: A lifeline for the vulnerable

For 19 years, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has been at the heart of the country’s anti-poverty drive. The minister noted that:
•⁠ ⁠More than 13 million children receive the Child Support Grant.
•⁠ ⁠Over four million older persons rely on the Older Persons Grant.
•⁠ ⁠The Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress remains a vital lifeline for more than seven million beneficiaries, especially the youth — with the 20–24 age group alone accounting for over 3.4 million applications.

The majority of grants are used by four provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, and Gauteng.

The minister confirmed above-inflation increases across the major grant types to cushion the rising cost of living: the Older Persons, Disability and Care Dependency Grants now stand at R2 310 per month, with a further increase planned for October.

Fighting fraud, corruption, and inefficiency

The department’s unrelenting fight against fraud and corruption includes rolling out a new biometric system at all SASSA offices this year. A nationwide review of beneficiaries is also underway to protect the integrity of the system and public funds.

Towards Basic Income Support

A policy on Basic Income Support will be tabled for approval this year, building on the evidence that the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress significantly reduced food poverty and supported job search efforts for millions.

National Development Agency: Turning the tide

The National Development Agency’s turnaround strategy is gaining momentum, increasing its support for community-driven economic projects. To date, nine community-owned enterprises have been established, including the Imbadu Community Bakery Primary Cooperative in Khayamandi, Stellenbosch, which runs a savings cooperative and sewing project creating much-needed jobs.

The National Development Agency aims to raise an additional R80-million this year to expand its impact further. The minister confirmed that the National Development Agency Board has been instructed to fill the vacant posts of CEO and CFO before year-end to sustain this positive trajectory.

Confronting gender-based violence and patriarchy

South Africa’s first national gender-based violence and femicide study by the Human Sciences Research Council confirmed the devastating scale of the crisis.

Minister Tolashe made a powerful call to action: “The seeds of this violence are deeply rooted in patriarchal culture and toxic masculinity.

“There are no more safe places for women and girls — homes have become graves.

“We therefore cannot afford to rest until we have beheaded the monster of patriarchy and can guarantee that all women and girls are safe.”

The department will expand shelter services in 30 identified gender-based violence and femicide hotspots, while also implementing a 90-day intensification programme through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, focusing on prevention, enforcement, care, and support.

Quoting Mother Teresa, Minister Tolashe reminded South Africans: “We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.”

She appealed to the private sector to join hands to sustain shelters for survivors and called on men to speak out.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” Minister Tolashe said, quoting Edmund Burke. “If you choose to remain silent, you are guilty of complicity.”

Acknowledging partnerships

The minister extended heartfelt thanks to partners who have stood by communities during disasters, including Old Mutual Foundation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, We Love You Foundation, Q-Link, ISON Experiences, the Red Cross Society of South Africa, and Gift of the Givers.

A Mandela Month commitment

In closing, Minister Tolashe invoked Madiba’s enduring vision:
“We do not want freedom without bread, nor do we want bread without freedom. We must provide for all the fundamental rights and freedoms associated with a democratic society.”

She thanked the deputy minister, all the MECs, the director-general of the Department of Social Development, the SASSA CEO, the board of the National Development Agency and staff across the portfolio for their unwavering service.