MINISTER TOLASHE’S MAIDEN BUDGET VOTE PRIORITISES POVERTY ERADICATION

By Lesego Ranchu 

• Incoming Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, delivered her maiden Budget Vote 2024 in Parliament, Cape Town, announcing an allocation of R275 billion to the Department of Social Development and R212 million to the National Development Agency (NDA) for the 2023/2025 financial year.
• The NDA’s new operating model and turnaround strategy focus on resource mobilisation to skill and equip community-owned enterprises, creating jobs and income opportunities to combat poverty.
• Strategic partners, including Eskom Development Foundation and Breadline Africa, were invited to the Budget Vote, emphasising the collaborative effort to advance infrastructure development and community empowerment.

Incoming Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, delivered her maiden Budget Vote 2024 in Parliament, Cape Town. An amount of R275 billion has been allocated to the Department of Social Development, with R212 million designated for the National Development Agency (NDA) to implement its poverty eradication mandate for the 2023/2025 financial year. The NDA is in the process of implementing its recently approved turnaround strategy and new operating model, focused primarily on resource mobilisation to skill and equip community-owned enterprises to create jobs and income opportunities within communities.

Strategic partners were invited to the Budget Vote, including the Eskom Development Foundation, Breadline Africa, Imbadu Housing Enablement Primary Cooperative, and the Allan and Gill Gray Philanthropies. Warren Povey of Breadline Africa remarked, “We are excited to be here today. Moreover, having recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the NDA for the advancement of infrastructure development, after working well in the Free State province, we are now going to implement nationally.”

At an engagement with stakeholders following the Budget Vote, Minister Tolashe said, “The arrival at DSD has been warm. The Deputy Minister and I have been welcomed with warmth. We look forward to further engagements with the Department and agencies, and we will continue to learn and grow to support the work of the Department.”

The Board Chairperson, Ms Nozabelo Bhengu, shared her sentiment on the delivery of the speech, “We welcome the Minister and Deputy Minister. The NDA accepts the Budget Vote and certainly it is welcome. The Minister understands the work of the NDA, and we are happy for the endorsement of the turnaround strategy in response to poverty in the country.”