MINISTER PRESENTS SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT’S 2024/25 ANNUAL REPORT TO PARLIAMENT

By Precious Mupenzi.

• Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, has presented the Department of Social Development’s 2024/25 Annual Report to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Social Development.
• The report highlights the department’s unwavering commitment to improving the protection, inclusion, and dignity of vulnerable groups, while ensuring public resources are used responsibly and effectively.
• “Since my deployment to this portfolio, my priority has been, and continues to be, stabilising the department and its public entities to deliver on our core mandate,” the minister told the committee.

Protecting children continues to be the central focus of the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) work, the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, told the Portfolio Committee on Social Development in Parliament today.

The department presented its 2024/25 Annual Report on 8 October 2025, following a session that also included a briefing by the Auditor-General of South Africa on audit outcomes for the department and its entities, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA).

This engagement formed part of Parliament’s oversight process to assess performance, governance, and financial accountability across the social development portfolio.

By participating in this important session, the department reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound financial management in advancing its mandate of providing social protection services to South Africa’s most vulnerable citizens.

Minister Tolashe reaffirmed the department’s unwavering commitment to improving the protection, inclusion, and dignity of vulnerable groups, from children and older persons to persons with disabilities, while ensuring that public resources are used responsibly and effectively.

“For the period under review, we focused on improving the sector’s capacity for the implementation of the Children’s Act. We welcome the promulgation of the Children’s Amendment Act No. 17 of 2022 together with its supporting regulations, which will go a long way to strengthening child protection safety nets and ensuring better protection of our children,” said Minister Tolashe.

Strengthening social protection and service delivery

Reflecting on the department’s performance, the minister noted that the 2024/25 financial year marked an important period of transition and progress, coinciding with the establishment of the Government of National Unity and the adoption of the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2025–2029.

She commended the dedication of the department’s staff and leadership for ensuring stability and continuity of services amid this national transition.

“Since my deployment to this portfolio, my priority has been, and continues to be, stabilising the department and its public entities to deliver on our core mandate,” she said.

“We have made great strides by filling critical posts that had been vacant for extended periods, including that of the Director-General, the Deputy Director-General: Welfare Services, and the Chief Financial Officer.”

Expanding social assistance

Minister Tolashe highlighted the significant expansion of the social assistance programme, which reached over 28 million eligible individuals during the year under review. This includes more than 13.1 million children benefiting from the Child Support Grant and about 4.1 million older persons receiving the Old Age Grant.

“Realising the pledge to ensure that no one is left behind demands that we remain focused on tackling child and adult poverty now and in the future,” she emphasised.

Advancing gender and disability programmes

The minister also reported progress in the fight against gender-based violence and femicide through the tabling of the Victim Support Services Bill to Cabinet. The Bill addresses existing legislative gaps and strengthens the provision of sheltering and victim support services.

“We have turned around the operational efficiency of the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre and continue to strengthen oversight and monitoring of services in provinces,” she said, adding that the department continues to monitor the implementation of the Universal Treatment Curriculum in treatment centres across the country.

Commitment to accountability and leadership

Minister Tolashe commended the Portfolio Committee on Social Development for its continuous oversight role, ensuring that the department’s work translates into tangible impact in people’s lives.

“The significant progress we have made for the year under review would not have been possible without the commitment of our dedicated staff and the support of this committee. I commit my leadership to the task at hand to ensure that we achieve our goals and advance the department’s mandate,” she said.

She extended appreciation to Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks, Director-General Peter Netshipale, and the leadership of SASSA and the NDA for their collaboration in driving the social development agenda.

“There is more to do, but the 2024/25 Annual Report clearly shows that we are off to a good start,” Minister Tolashe concluded.