Treasury is redirecting R6.2bn in savings from fewer projected social grant beneficiaries to prevent gender-based violence and femicide, according to reporting on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's medium-term budget policy statement.
R3.8bn over the medium term is set aside to hire 3,552 social workers.
Where the money comes from
Treasury says savings of R6.2bn, from fewer projected social grant beneficiaries, will be re-prioritised to prevent gender-based violence and femicide. Separately, R3.8bn over the medium term is set aside to hire 3,552 social workers, according to published coverage of the statement.
Godongwana's statement also noted R1.6bn over the medium term for child nutrition and that social spending is 60% of non-interest expenditure, according to one report.
Courts, care centres and policing
One report of the budget documents says sexual offence courts will rise from 55 to 101 and Thuthuzela Care Centres from 72 to 80. We have not confirmed these numbers against the Treasury document.
The same report says R810m is set aside to recapitalise the police vehicle fleet. R823m goes to the South African National Defence Force to support police against gang violence and illegal mining, according to published coverage.
What we do not yet know
- Whether the R3.8bn for social workers is part of, or additional to, the R6.2bn redirected.
- Which department will employ the social workers and over what period they will be hired.
- Whether the court and care-centre targets are confirmed in the Treasury document.
- The year by which the new courts will be in place.
