19 MILLION GRANTS, 13 MILLION CHILDREN – SOCIAL PROTECTION IS SHAPING SOUTH AFRICA’S FUTURE

By Precious Mupenzi

• Social protection in South Africa goes far beyond support; it is a long-term investment in education and opportunity.
• ⁠Currently, 13 million children benefit from social grants, ensuring children do not go to school hungry.
• The South African Social Security Agency’s Child Support Grants may provide a social security net from birth to 18, or 21 for children still in school, ensuring stability during critical developmental and educational years.

More than 19 million social grants are currently in payment across South Africa, with over 13 million children benefitting, translating to an investment of some R65-billion in the country’s youngest citizens.

These figures, shared during the launch of the educational outcomes report of the 2025 Grade 12 learners receiving social protection services, paint a compelling picture: social protection is not just support, it is a long-term investment in education and opportunity.

Addressing stakeholders at the NU 10 Community Hall in Mdantsane, in the Eastern Cape, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) Chief Executive Officer, Themba Matlou, said the scale of government’s investment demonstrates a clear commitment to breaking the cycle of poverty.

“This clearly demonstrates the progress government is making in tackling poverty and ensuring that children are able to go to school having had food on the table,” he said.

Matlou framed social grants within a life cycle approach, emphasising that social assistance is designed to support individuals continuously from infancy, through schooling, into adulthood, and old age.

“Social assistance is not a once-off intervention but a continuous system that walks with people over time, supporting children, empowering youth, and protecting dignity later in life,” he explained.

He highlighted that children are supported from as early as birth through the Child Support Grant, which can extend up to age 18, and even 21 for those still in school, ensuring stability during critical developmental and educational years.

At the heart of the engagement was the recognition of matriculants whose academic success reflects the impact of this sustained support.

“Today, you are living proof that this approach works. Social grants are not a handout, they are a hand-up,” Matlou told the learners.

He noted that social grants help create an environment where learners can focus on their studies instead of daily survival challenges, contributing to improved educational outcomes.

Marking 20 years of SASSA’s existence, Matlou said the agency remains committed to ensuring that social assistance reaches those who need it most with dignity and reliability.

“It is a proud moment for parents and caregivers who have walked this journey with their children. Today we celebrate resilience, determination and hope,” he said.

The data further reveals the breadth of the system, with millions of South Africans supported through various grants, including older persons, persons with disabilities, and caregivers, illustrating how social protection strengthens entire households, not just individuals.

The Mdantsane engagement forms part of the government’s broader effort to showcase how integrated social protection, education, and partnerships, including with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, are opening pathways for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

As South Africa enters its third decade of the Constitution, the message from the event was clear: when social protection and education work together, they do more than alleviate poverty; they unlock potential and build a more equitable future.