FROM GRANTS TO GROWTH | KWAMASHU PILOT ANCHORS NATIONAL STRATEGY TO LINK GRANTS WITH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

By Cuma Pantshwa.

• DSD and its partners held a strategic session in KwaMashu to expand the Generating Better Livelihoods (GBL) project, which connects grants to employment opportunities, skills development, and entrepreneurship.
• Pilot Progress: 262 women have been profiled so far; 45% connected to opportunities like small businesses, employment, and training in sectors such as fashion, agriculture, and crafts.
• National Rollout Plan: A 3–5-year roadmap will integrate the Graduation Approach into social protection policy, aiming to reduce dependency and foster economic self-reliance.

The Department of Social Development (DSD), together with its agencies—the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA)—in collaboration with FinMark Trust (FMT) and BRAC International, has launched a high-level site visit to the KwaMashu pilot of the Generating Better Livelihoods (GBL) project. This transformative initiative aims to transition social grant recipients towards sustainable economic opportunities by creating pathways to employment, entrepreneurship, and skills development.
Delegates gathered this morning in Umhlanga, Durban, for the start of a three-day strategic planning session focused on scaling up the Graduation Approach. This globally recognised model seeks reduces long-term dependency on social grants by creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods. The day includes a field visit to engage directly with participants at Ntuzuma A Hall.

Learning from the Ground Up

Mr Alfa Mahlako, Chief Director for Public Employment and Sustainable Livelihoods at DSD, opened the session by outlining the purpose of the site visit, calling it a vital “reality check.”

“We are here to listen, observe, and understand the lived experience of those we are trying to support — and to ensure that the strategic plans we develop are grounded in the realities of the people,” he said.
KwaMashu is one of seven pilot sites nationally — across Gauteng, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal, where the GBL model is being implemented to connect grant recipients, particularly those receiving the Child Support Grant, to skills development, entrepreneurship, and employment pathways.

MEC Sets Vision for Transformative Social Development

Delivering the keynote address, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Social Development, Hon. Mbali Shinga, officially opened the strategic planning session with a powerful call to action.
“Today, we gather to chart a path towards empowering our communities and improving the lives of those who rely on social grants,” said MEC Shinga.
“While unemployment, social ills, and poverty persist in our province, I’m convinced that collectively, we can forge a brighter future.”
She highlighted the department’s shift from traditional welfare toward a developmental approach; one that empowers communities, fosters resilience, and promotes inclusive economic growth.

The MEC also noted the alignment between the GBL programme and South Africa’s Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP) 2024–2029, which outlines national priorities including poverty eradication, job creation, and the building of a capable state.
“It’s no longer enough to merely provide assistance. We must create pathways to prosperity — where social grants are not the end point, but a stepping stone,” Shinga said.
“Initiatives like these are exactly what we need — empowering people to fend for themselves, put food on the table, and create a ripple effect of support for others.”

Empowered Community and Local Innovations

During the day, delegates were transported by local taxis to Ntuzuma A Hall, where they heard directly from GBL participants about their personal journeys and aspirations.
The visit featured a vibrant exhibition of small-scale enterprises and micro-projects born out of the programme — from home-based food businesses and youth start-ups to women-led cooperatives — all demonstrating the tangible potential of the Graduation Approach to drive locally grounded, sustainable livelihoods.
The participants, predominantly young women, conveyed their appreciation and proudly presented their businesses, showcasing their entrepreneurial drive and resilience.”
As of July 2025, a total of 262 participants have been profiled in KwaMashu, representing just over 13% of the targeted 2,000 beneficiaries for the site. Although onboarding is still in progress, these early figures provide valuable insight into the programme’s trajectory and potential impact.
All 262 current participants are women, including two persons with disabilities. Notably, more than 70% have identified themselves as aspiring entrepreneurs, a promising indicator of the desire for economic self-reliance.
Of the 262 profiled participants, 119 (45%) have already been linked to tangible livelihood opportunities, including:
• 27 linked to employment and learnerships
• 38 are operating their own small businesses
• 54 enrolled in various skills development initiatives

Emerging enterprise interests among participants include:
• Hair and beauty services
• Fashion design
• Agriculture (especially crop production and poultry)
• Baking and fast food
• Merchandising of perfumes, clothes, and beauty products
• Craft manufacturing, such as beadwork and handmade items
These early trends offer a strong foundation for refining the GBL model to ensure it remains responsive to the ambitions, challenges, and realities of grant beneficiaries.

Next Steps: From Pilot to National Strategy

Over the next two days, key partners from DSD, SASSA, NDA, FMT, and BRAC will collaborate to develop a three-to-five-year roadmap for the national rollout of the GBL programme. The plan will aim to institutionalise the Graduation Approach as a core part of South Africa’s social protection policy — placing dignity, economic opportunity, and resilience at the centre of service delivery.
From dependency to self-sufficiency — this is not just the journey of the participants, but the department’s mission in action: to build sustainable pathways out of poverty and restore dignity through opportunity”, said Mr Mahlako.