10 July 2025
Topic: Strengthening Social Protection and Grant Administration
The African National Congress standsunwavering in its support of Budget Vote 19 of Social Development, as a critical pillar of our democratic dispensation that embodies the African National Congress’s commitment to building a caring and compassionate society. With an allocation of R844.4 billion over the medium-term expenditure framework, this budget represents more than numbers; it represents hope, dignity, and the fundamental promise of our Constitution that no one should be left behind. The ANC has consistently championed the principle that “the people shall share in the country’s wealth”, as enshrined in our Freedom Charter. Since 1994, we have built one of the world’s most comprehensive social protection systems, expanding from a mere 3 million grant recipients in 1996 to approximately 28 million people, which today translates to 45% of our population. This represents one of the largest social security systems in the developing world and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to social justice.
Our commitment to inclusive social protection is unwavering. We continue to ensure that war veterans, people with disabilities, and children with special needs are not excluded from our safety net. The care dependency grant will support 194,610 children with disabilities who require specialized care and support services, while the disability grant reaches 1.1 million beneficiaries. These grants are not mere welfare payments; they are instruments of economic empowerment and social transformation. The foster care grant, supporting 167,627 vulnerable children, demonstrates our commitment to child protection, while the grant-in-aid provides additional support to those requiring regular care. We have also strengthened our approach to supporting 849,351 grant-in-aid beneficiaries by 2027/28, ensuring that our most vulnerable citizens receive comprehensive support.
Honourable House Chairperson
I must address the elephant in the room regarding the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. While the current SRD grant continues until March 2026 with R35.2 billion allocated to maintain the R370 monthly payment, we acknowledge the anxiety surrounding its future. However, this is precisely why our government is committed to finalising the Basic Income Grant policy within this financial year. The ANC’s position is clear: we support a Basic Income Grant, as articulated in our 2024 manifesto, which states that we will progressively implement a basic income support grant by extending and improving the value and coverage of the SRD grant for the unemployed. We are committed to increasing the grant value first to the food poverty line of R760, then progressively toward the Upper Bound Poverty Line.
The delay in implementing the BIG should not be misconstrued as a lack of commitment. Policy development of this magnitude requires careful consideration of fiscal sustainability, economic impact, and implementation mechanisms. Our commitment remains firm: to establish a comprehensive basic income support system that will serve as a permanent foundation for poverty eradication.
The integrity of our social grants system is non-negotiable. We have implemented robust biometric verification systems to strengthen beneficiary authentication and reduce fraud. From May 2025, all grant recipients using alternative identification will undergo mandatory biometric enrolment, ensuring that we “pay the right grant to the right person at the right time and place”. The investment of R105 million over the MTEFperiod in biometric solutions includes facial recognition technology and high-performance search capabilities. This technological advancement, combined with our fraud prevention initiatives, demonstrates our commitment to protecting the integrity of the system while ensuring legitimate beneficiaries receive their entitlements without delay.
The commitment to modernizing service delivery is evident in our substantial investment in digital systems. We are introducing digital self-help channels through WhatsApp and Facebook chatbots to reduce call centre demand and improve client communication. The successful implementation of these channels has already saved SASSA R7.5 million while handling over 413,000 individual queries in the first month alone. The expansion of our digital applications system, which currently processes applications within 10 days when all required documents are provided, represents a significant improvement in processing times. This system, which covers Child Support, Older Persons, and foster Child grants, eliminates the need for beneficiaries to queue in long lines at SASSA offices. We also note improvements in the processing times for new grant applications from 90 days to 7 days, and ultimately to 5 days by 2027/28. This dramatic improvement will reduce the anxiety and hardship faced by applicants waiting for their grants to be processed.
The tribunal currently processes appeals within 60 to 90 days, providing an independent review mechanism for applicants dissatisfied with SASSA decisions. With R120.4 million allocated over the MTEF period for appeals adjudication, we are developing an electronic system to improve cash flow and record management.
House chairperson
Recognising the challenges posed by load shedding, we have allocated R29 million to provide alternative power supply to 90 critical SASSA offices through generators and other backup power solutions. This represents the first phase of a comprehensive strategy to ensure uninterrupted service delivery across all 389 local SASSA offices nationwide. The upgrading of 72 offices in 2025/26, 81 offices in 2026/27, and 90 offices in 2027/28 with alternative power supply and general improvements, ensures that load shedding does not prevent our citizens from accessing their constitutional right to social assistance.
It is pivotal to build partnerships for sustainable development. This approach also extends beyond grant payments to building sustainable livelihoods. Through the National Development Agency, R679 million is allocated over the MTEF period to support civil society organisations in poverty alleviation programmes. The agency aims to capacitate 8,500 members of community-owned commercial enterprises over the next three years, providing both technical and soft skills training. The strengthening of partnerships with Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) to provide targeted skills training for SRD grant recipients, creating pathways from social assistance to economic empowerment. This holistic approach ensures that our social protection system serves as a springboard for sustainable development rather than creating dependency.
We also note the ongoing litigation regarding grant regulations, particularly concerning bank surveillance and algorithmic fraud profiling. These legal challenges reflect the complexity of striking a balance between fraud prevention and beneficiary rights. Our government must remain committed to finding solutions that protect system integrity while ensuring fair access for all eligible beneficiaries. The introduction of monthly income verification through bank checks and cross-referencing with government databases represents a proactive approach to maintaining system integrity,our goal remains to ensure long-term sustainability of the system for all legitimate recipients.
The historic transformation of South Africa’s social protection system under the leadership of the ANC cannot be overstated. Our commitment to eradicating income poverty and reducing inequality through expanded social protection remains unwavering. As we move forward, we remain guided by the ANC’s core principle that “a better life for all” is not just a slogan but a constitutional mandate. Through comprehensive social protection, efficient administration, and strategic partnerships, we are building a South Africa where no one is left behind. The people have spoken, and we have listened. This budget delivers on our promises while laying the foundation for sustainable and transformative social protection. I urge this house to support Budget Vote 19 with the conviction that we are voting for hope, dignity, and the constitutional promise of a better life for all South Africans.
Amandla!