ACTING MINISTER TABLES R302-BILLION SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT BUDGET, HIGHLIGHTS SASSA MODERNISATION AND ANTI-POVERTY MEASURES

By DSD News

• The budget vote for the Department of Social Development, delivered by acting Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga, gives practical effect to the president’s call for “a nation that works for all”.
• In her address to Parliament on 19 May 2026, Minister Chikunga noted the budget vote was being tabled during the 20th anniversary year of the South African Social Security Agency.
• ⁠She also pointed out research that showed social development interventions had reduced poverty, improved child nutrition and health, boosted educational outcomes and advanced human development.

Acting Minister of Social Development Sindisiwe Chikunga has tabled the department’s Budget Vote 19 for the 2026/27 financial year, announcing a R302-billion allocation aimed at strengthening South Africa’s social protection system, extending poverty relief programmes and modernising the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA).

Delivering the budget speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, Minister Chikunga said the budget was being tabled under difficult domestic and global economic conditions marked by rising living costs, food prices and geopolitical instability.

She said the budget gives practical effect to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for “a nation that works for all” and aligns with the Medium-Term Development Plan priorities of inclusive growth, job creation, poverty reduction and building a capable developmental state.

Historic milestones

Chikunga opened her address by reflecting on several historic anniversaries being commemorated in 2026, including 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March, 50 years since the 1976 student uprisings, and 30 years since the adoption of South Africa’s Constitution.

She said these struggles helped pave the way for greater representation of women in leadership and public institutions.

According to Chikunga, women now make up 43.5% of Parliament, compared to 28% in 1994, while women constitute 43% of the Executive. She also noted that 45% of South Africa’s judges are now women, compared to only two women judges in 1994.

SASSA marks 20 years

The minister said the budget was being tabled during the 20th anniversary year of SASSA under the theme: “Strengthening social protection and celebrating 20 years of SASSA: Delivering dignity, enabling the future.”

She paid tribute to former Social Development Minister Dr Zola Skweyiya for his role in establishing the agency.

Chikunga said SASSA had been central to the government’s efforts to shield millions of South Africans from extreme poverty and support pathways out of deprivation.

Citing a 2023 study by Professor Leila Patel and colleagues from the University of Johannesburg, she said social grants had enabled beneficiaries to pursue formal and informal work opportunities, sustain small businesses and invest in education.

She also referred to findings by UNICEF (the United Nations Children’s Fund) and the International Labour Organisation, which found that social development interventions had reduced poverty, improved child nutrition and health, boosted educational outcomes and advanced human development.

Child Support Grant linked to matric success

The Minister highlighted the impact of the Child Support Grant on educational outcomes.

She told Parliament that of the 729 650 learners who wrote matric in 2025, 84.2% were recipients of the Child Support Grant.

According to Chikunga, the matric pass rate among grant beneficiaries rose from 74% in 2021 to 84.9% in 2025, while bachelor pass rates improved from 33.2% to 41.9% over the same period.

She said learners receiving the grant had also performed strongly in subjects such as mathematics and physical science, with many progressing to higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“Those who graduate, get jobs, start businesses and earn income represent our desired return on investment,” she said.

Budget allocations

The Department of Social Development has been allocated R302-billion for the 2026/27 financial year.

Of this amount:
•⁠ ⁠R293-billion is earmarked for direct monthly social assistance transfers to children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
•⁠ ⁠R36.4-billion has been allocated for the continuation of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD).
•⁠ ⁠R300-million will go to SASSA to cover the increased administrative costs associated with the SRD.
•⁠ ⁠An additional R58.4-million has been allocated to SASSA for incentivised early retirement and voluntary exit packages affecting 134 employees.
•⁠ ⁠The department itself received an additional R8.9-million for similar programmes involving 12 employees.

Chikunga welcomed the social grant increases announced by the Minister of Finance, while acknowledging that the Child Support Grant remains below the food poverty line.

SASSA modernisation and fraud prevention

“In the previous financial year, the department outlined ambitious plans anchored on SASSA’s modernisation programme and aggressive grant review process. I am encouraged that these efforts are already yielding measurable results.”

According to Chikunga, the grant review process has saved the national fiscus more than R1-billion, which has been redirected to other national priorities.

She said SASSA had rolled out a biometric beneficiary verification system across all 432 offices nationwide by September 2025, with approximately one million new applications enrolled on the system by the end of March this year.

The agency has also expanded its Queue Management System from 113 offices to 378 offices, with the remaining sites expected to be completed during the first quarter of the financial year.

Chikunga said the government would strengthen cybersecurity systems to protect beneficiary information and expedite lifestyle audits for SASSA officials working in high-risk areas such as grant administration, finance, ICT and procurement.

SRD extended to 2027

Chikunga welcomed President Ramaphosa’s decision to extend the COVID-19 SRD until the end of March 2027.

The programme currently supports about eight million working-age South Africans who are unable to support themselves and their families.

She also said the department had made progress on the Draft Basic Income Support Policy, including the completion of costing models.

Government is also piloting a programme called Generating better livelihoods for Child Support Grant recipients in the Free State, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal in partnership with FinMark Trust.

The initiative is aimed at linking social grant beneficiaries to sustainable livelihood opportunities and is expected to be expanded to all provinces during the current financial year.

National Development Agency and civil society support

An allocation of R225-million has been made to the National Development Agency (NDA) to continue implementing its turnaround strategy and support around 800 civil society organisations.

Chikunga said the NDA had established nine community-owned enterprises aimed at creating employment opportunities for young people.

The agency also managed to mobilise approximately R40-million in additional funding and would focus on strengthening internal controls and securing more support from public and private sector partners.

Tackling substance abuse and NPO reform

The government has allocated R9.9-million to strengthen the work of the Central Drug Authority (CDA) and support the incoming board.

The department also plans to roll out an integrated digital platform for non-profit organisation registration and reporting.

The platform will allow real-time compliance tracking and improve coordination with institutions such as the South African Revenue Service and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission.

Gender-based violence and child protection

Chikunga said: “Following the classification of gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster”, the government will continue to expand access to shelters and psychosocial services.

The department currently funds 142 shelters across the country, with 47 of South Africa’s 52 districts now having shelter coverage.

The remaining five districts are expected to receive shelters during the current financial year.

She said the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre had received more than 39 000 calls since the beginning of the year.

The minister also condemned recent alleged witchcraft-related mob killings in the Eastern Cape, including the death of a 75-year-old woman, and called on law enforcement agencies to act decisively against such abuses.

“We call upon all citizens to continue reporting all forms of abuse to the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre on 0800 428 428.”

On child protection, Chikunga said: “All of us have a responsibility to protect our children”, adding that the department was strengthening measures against child sexual exploitation and statutory rape as part of Child Protection Month activities.

She added that the government was also prioritising online safety measures for children.

The minister said the issue of unemployed social workers would receive urgent attention.

Legislative priorities

Chikunga outlined several policy and legislative priorities for the coming year, including:
•⁠ ⁠Finalising the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Strategy for South Africa.
•⁠ ⁠Completing consultations on the National Drug Master Plan 2026–2030.
•⁠ ⁠Finalising consultations on the Children’s Amendment Bill before submission to the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC).
•⁠ ⁠Developing regulations to implement the Older Persons Amendment Act.
•⁠ ⁠Finalising the National Strategy on Ageing in line with the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing.

She also confirmed that the department had begun implementing a new organisational structure following approval by the Minister of Public Service and Administration.

The department is now in the process of filling critical vacancies, including the position of Director-General.

In concluding her address, Chikunga thanked the portfolio committee on social development, Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks, departmental officials, SASSA leadership and associated agencies for their support before formally tabling Budget Vote 19 before Parliament.

•⁠ ⁠To report any form of abuse, contact the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre on 0800 428 428.