DSD CALLS FOR STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

By Morapedi Sibeko

• The Department of Social Development (DSD) is calling for stronger partnerships across government, civil society, service providers and communities to improve care and support for children with disabilities during Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM).
• The respite care programme, piloted in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), has reached 220 children and their families.
• The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays 179 609 Care Dependency Grants (CDG) every month to help caregivers meet the needs of children with disabilities.

Pretoria – Raising a child with a disability can bring additional care responsibilities, the need for specialised support and the challenge of finding appropriate services. Children with disabilities and their families deserve support that responds to these needs and enables every child to grow, develop and participate in society.

As Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) gets underway, the Department of Social Development (DSD) is calling for stronger partnerships across government, civil society, service providers and communities to improve the care and support available to children with disabilities and their families.

Guided by the 2026 theme, “Creating Strategic Multisectoral Partnerships for a Disability-Inclusive Society”, DSD is highlighting the importance of a coordinated approach that places children and their families at the centre of service delivery.

Understanding the scale of the challenge depends on reliable information. The Department of Basic Education’s (DBE) 2025 report, “Correcting the Erroneous Statistic that 600 000 Children with Disabilities are out of School”, highlights the need for accurate data when assessing how many children with disabilities are not accessing education. It cautions against relying on previously circulated figures that were based on different data sources and definitions of disability.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) “Situation Analysis of Children and Adolescents in South Africa (2024)” further reports that only 8 641 children with severe to profound intellectual disabilities were receiving support in special care centres in 2022.
The needs of children with disabilities extend beyond education. Some require assistance with everyday activities, developmental support, rehabilitation and specialised care. Limited access to information, negative attitudes and the additional costs of caring for a child with a disability place further demands on families. Parents and caregivers often carry these responsibilities alongside their work and other family commitments.

As the custodian of the Children’s Act, DSD has an important responsibility to promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of all children, including children with disabilities. This includes promoting their right to appropriate care, protection, support and participation in social, cultural and educational activities.

One of DSD’s interventions is the respite care programme, which provides temporary relief to parents and caregivers while ensuring that children continue to receive appropriate care, stimulation, protection and opportunities for development. The programme recognises that caregivers need support too. Having time to rest and attend to other responsibilities is important for those who provide ongoing care to children with disabilities.

DSD is currently piloting the programme in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape as part of efforts to strengthen community-based care and support. To date, the pilot has reached 220 children and their families. The lessons learnt through its implementation will help to strengthen the provision of respite care services.

Through its partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), DSD is working to strengthen community-based respite care services, including caregiver training and improved referral arrangements.

Social assistance is another important form of support. Through the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), qualifying caregivers of children under the age of 18 who require care because of a disability receive the Care Dependency Grant (CDG). SASSA currently pays 179 609 CDGs every month, helping families meet some of the needs associated with caring for their children.

Recognising that children’s needs often require support from different sectors, DSD is working with the departments of Basic Education and Health through a joint coordinating committee supported by JICA. The collaboration focuses on early identification, referrals and better coordination of services to help families access appropriate support.
Christina Banyini, Chief Education Specialist at the Department of Basic Education, emphasises that support for children with disabilities must extend beyond the school environment. She notes that family support and early intervention are particularly important for children with intellectual disabilities and those who are not yet accessing education.

Bontle Baloyi, Programme Manager for Disability, Rehabilitation, Ear and Eye Health at the Department of Health, highlights the role of the joint coordinating committee in identifying children’s developmental needs, strengthening referrals and connecting families with appropriate healthcare and support services.

DSD recognises that the experiences of children with disabilities and their families must inform the services intended to support them. Their involvement, together with that of organisations representing people with disabilities, is important in ensuring that programmes respond to their actual needs.

As the month unfolds, DSD calls on all sectors to strengthen their partnerships and contribute to a society where children with disabilities are included, supported and given opportunities to reach their full potential. Their care and development are a shared responsibility, and families should not have to navigate the journey alone.