Social Development expands support services

Protecting and uplifting children remains at the heart of the Department of Social Development’s mandate, Minister Sisisi Tolashe told the Portfolio Committee on Social Development recently.

The department presented its 2024/25 Annual Report, following a session that also featured a briefing by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the audit outcomes for the department and its entities – the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency (NDA).

The Minister reported progress in the fight against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), highlighting the tabling of the Victim Support Services Bill to Cabinet. The Bill addresses existing legislative gaps and strengthens the provision of sheltering and victim support services.

“We have turned around the operational efficiency of the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre and continue to strengthen oversight and monitoring of services in provinces,” she said, adding that the department continues to monitor the implementation of the Universal Treatment Curriculum in treatment centres across the country.

Minister Tolashe also highlighted the growth of the social assistance programme, which now reaches over 28 million eligible individuals. This includes more than 13.1 million children benefiting from the Child Support Grant and about 4.1 million older persons receiving the Old Age Grant.

“Realising the pledge to ensure that no one is left behind demands that we remain focused on tackling child and adult poverty now and in the future,” she emphasised.

Audit outcomes and governance improvements

The Department of Social Development received a qualified audit opinion with findings for 2024/25, while SASSA achieved an unqualified audit opinion.

Minister Tolashe commended this progress but urged the agency to strive for excellence.

“I will be more pleased to see SASSA moving towards a clean audit in the next financial year. I have directed the chief executive officer to meticulously address all findings of the Auditor-General and to provide progress reports to my office regularly,” she said.

She also addressed ongoing matters between Postbank and SASSA that have drawn public attention, noting that the President has referred the issue to an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) for resolution.

“We will inform this committee of the IMC’s deliberations and decisions in due course,” the Minister said.

She further emphasised that the termination of the Master Service Agreement between SASSA and Postbank does not affect beneficiaries’ entitlement to access their grants, and that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure compliance with legislative and financial governance requirements. – SAnews.gov.za 

Did you know?

Qualified audit: The Auditor General found some issues or exceptions when auditing.

Unqualified audit: The Auditor General found no major issues, the report is clean.