Social protection

SONA Highlights

Providing income support and social protection

Implement National Strategy to accelerate action for children

Supporting basic needs

Maintain social wage spending at 60% of national budget

Implementing cost of living reduction

Enhance food security programmes

Providing income support and social protection

We provide income support to millions of vulnerable South Africans through social grants, such as the Child Support Grant and the Old Age Grant. We are also working to expand access to social security and other forms of social protection.

Integrate support systems across agencies for coordinated poverty relief.
Implementation of National Strategy to accelerate action for children, focusing on poverty reduction, protection and malnutrition.
Use the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant as the basis for a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people.
Integrate social protection with the broader poverty alleviation strategy, linking social assistance with livelihood opportunities to lift people out of poverty.

Stories of impact

Supporting basic needs

We are working to ensure that all South Africans have access to basic needs, such as food, water and shelter. This includes providing food parcels, building affordable housing and investing in water and sanitation infrastructure.

Ensure that local government implements the indigent policy to ensure the elderly, infirm and poor have access to free basic services such as electricity and water.
Consider the expansion of the basket of VAT-exempt essential food items.
Continue funding no-fee public schools for learners.
Continue supporting higher education, funding students from poor and working class backgrounds to study at universities and colleges.

Expanded Public Works Programme

Reducing the cost of living

We are implementing measures to reduce the cost of living for South Africans, such as reducing the cost of public transportation, providing subsidies for essential goods and promoting energy efficiency.

Review current administered prices (including the fuel price formula) to identify areas for reduction.
Return all passenger rail corridors to service as a low-cost transport option and improve access to public transport.
Implement an integrated transport network in line with the National Rail Policy.
Enhance food security programmes for accessibility.

The National Transport Master Plan Stories of Impact