MINISTER CALLS FOR STRONGER SOCIAL PROTECTION AT MINMEC MEETING

By Precious Mupenzi

• The second Social Development Minster and MECs meeting (MinMEC) under the government of national unity met on 21 February 2025 to discuss the state of social development services in the country.
• These meetings ensure collaboration and alignment between the national and provincial governments in addressing key social issues affecting South Africans.
• Opening the session, Minister Nokuzola Tolashe wasted no time in addressing the country’s deepening social crises, citing rising poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, and substance abuse as key concerns.

Against the backdrop of ongoing economic and social challenges, Minister of Social Development Nokuzola Tolashe convened the second Minister and MECs (MinMEC) meeting under the government of national unity in Cape Town.

The meeting, held at the Western Cape Provincial Legislature on 21 February 2025, brought together provincial MECs, the leadership of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency to discuss the state of social development services in the country. 

This was the second MinMEC meeting since the formation of the government of national unity, following the first session held in Pretoria on 27 September 2024.

MinMEC is an important sector forum where the national minister meets with provincial MECs and heads of government agencies to discuss policies, challenges, and implementation strategies in the social development sector. These meetings ensure collaboration and alignment between the national and provincial governments in addressing key social issues affecting South Africans.

Opening the session, Minister Tolashe wasted no time in addressing the country’s deepening social crises, citing rising poverty, unemployment, gender-based violence, and substance abuse as key concerns.

“This meeting is taking place after SONA (the State of the Nation Address delivered by President Cyril Ramaphosa), which laid down priorities for us for the next financial year. It also follows the finalisation of the much-awaited Medium-Term Development Plan by the Extended Cabinet Lekgotla in January 2025,” she said.

Setting the tone

“We are still confronted by deep poverty and inequality, and our people continue to struggle with limited access to quality social services,” she said.

“The burden of social ills, including gender-based violence, child abuse, and substance dependency, is growing. We must act decisively to provide relief and long-term solutions for our communities.”

Her remarks set the tone for a meeting focused on strengthening social protection, expanding services, and improving government coordination in addressing urgent social issues.

One of the main topics was the ongoing challenges in the payment of social grants, particularly in rural areas where beneficiaries struggle to access their funds.

The replacement of SASSA Postbank cards was highlighted as a major concern, with officials working on solutions to minimise disruptions. 

“We recognise the frustration of our beneficiaries, especially in remote areas. No person should be denied access to their rightful support. We must ensure that the right grant is paid to the right person, njalo!” Tolashe stated firmly. 

The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to comprehensive social security, highlighting that over 44% of South Africans rely on social grants. She stressed that these grants have proven effective in reducing hunger, poverty, and inequality. 

“South Africa provides one of the best social protection measures in the world.

“The grant system has been shown by multiple studies to be well-targeted and successful in reducing deprivation while also demonstrating positive spillover effects on economic growth and social stability,” she said. 

Tackling food poverty

She also pointed out that the social protection investment has proven to bear positive outcomes, with 79% of learners who wrote the 2024 National Senior Certificate were social grant beneficiaries, proving that the system plays a key role in breaking cycles of poverty.

With hunger and malnutrition still affecting many communities, the minister called for stronger food security programmes to ensure vulnerable groups, especially children and older persons, receive adequate nutrition. 

“We must address food poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. No child should go to bed hungry.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that our social protection programmes are optimised to reach those most in need,” she said. 

Addressing gender-based violence, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy, the minister emphasised the need for a coordinated approach to tackling gender-based violence and femicide, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy, calling for psycho-social support services to be made more accessible. 

“We need to ensure that victims of gender-based violence and femicide have access to the much-needed psycho-social services in all our districts and local areas. Our communities must have access to rehabilitation, counselling, and protection services – not just statistics and reports,” she said.  

Minister Tolashe concluded the meeting by aligning the department’s efforts with the seventh administration’s priorities, which focus on inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and job creation. 

“The priorities of this administration are clear: eradicate poverty, improve livelihoods, and address social ills. As a department, we must optimise our social protection system within available resources and ensure that our social assistance programs are efficient and effective,” she said. 

The Department of Social Development will play a central role in ensuring economic inclusion and tackling vulnerabilities through its welfare and community development programmes, she emphasised. 

Preparing for the G20 meetings

The minister also highlighted South Africa’s upcoming G20 presidential summit in November 2025, where the country will advance global discussions on social protection, equality, and economic development under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”

“South Africa remains committed to playing a meaningful role in global social and economic development. We will use our G20 presidency to promote discussions on women, youth, social protection, security, and dignity for all.” 

Minister Tolashe urged all MECs, and SASSA, and National Development Agency officials to ensure that social development programmes translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives. 

“This meeting is not just about discussions; it is about taking action.

“We must ensure that our social development programmes are responsive, effective, and accessible to every South African who needs them.

“Our commitment to social protection is unwavering. We will do everything possible to ensure that those who depend on grants are not left behind,” Minister Tolashe stated.