​The Gauteng Department of Social Development has budgeted R2.151 billion for services to children and families.
This was declared by Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe during her Budget Vote at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in Johannesburg last week Wednesday.

The Department is allocated an overall budget of R5.537 billion in the current 2022/23 financial year, which is reduced by 10% from the previous budget of R6.149 billion.

Tabling her budget vote with key focus to services to children, MEC Mosupyoe stated that the Department distributed 636 119 dignity packs and 151 797 school uniforms to ensure children remain in school and that their dignity is protected.

“In so far as ensuring we fight poverty, and support and protect the girl child in attaining an education, we will continue to distribute dignity packs to all girls in need.”

“In the 2022/23 financial year, we have a budget for dignity packs at R198 133 000, and to ensure that children in disadvantaged backgrounds go to school, we have R187 456 000 for the School Uniform Project,” said Mosupyoe.

The MEC further stated that the Department will commit to reducing the risk of sexual and physical violence against women and children by ensuring the participation of men and boys through education on gender-based violence.

“A commitment to this mandate was recently demonstrated through our launch of the Provincial Boy Scouts Programme in partnership with Scouts South Africa where there are currently two hundred (200) beneficiaries,” she said.

The Department will this year, start the process of rendering certain identified services, which were previously and commonly rendered only by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs).

Amongst others, and following the amendment of the Children’s Act, the Department has trained and registered one hundred and eight (108) social workers to render adoption services to communities free of charge.

“Adoption services will no longer be for the affluent or chosen few alone but will be accessible to all children and families, irrespective of race or economic class. The Department will be engaging the sector accordingly on these planned fundamental service delivery changes,” concluded Mosupyoe.

The Gauteng Department of Social Development budget allocation for the 2022/23 FY is as follows:

Administration = R753 676 000
Social Welfare Services = 1 050 381 000
Children and Families = R2 151 038 000
Restorative Services = R760 038 000 Development and Research = R821 904 000 Bringing the total to R5.537 billion.