Western Cape Department of Social Development Budget: Getting it done with kindness

On 24 March 2026 Western Cape Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt tabled the Western Cape Department of Social Development’s 2026/2027 budget.

Minister Londt said, “During his State of the Province Address, Premier Alan Winde said we are a government that GETS IT DONE.

This is the embodiment of the Western Cape Department of Social Development. We get things done. And more importantly, we get it done with kindness and care, as Finance Minister Deidre Baartman said during her tabling of the budget: “We are delivering growth, with discipline and with care.”

Our Department has persevered through immense challenges, such as a grim and global economic outlook, and increased demand in services that fail to match scarce resources. 

But not only have we persevered, but I believe we are now at a stage where we are continuously able to expand services for vulnerable residents, thanks to the ingenuity and innovation of management and staff, effective utilization of available resources, and most crucial of all: partnerships.

But this does not mean we are complacent, in fact it means we are working harder than ever to ensure that the money we are entrusted with continues to stretch – for the benefit of the residents we serve, especially the most vulnerable.

The Department received a 4.98% increase in its budget allocation for the 2026/27 financial year, increasing from R2.760 billion in 2025/26 to R2.897 billion.” 

Further highlights from the speech include:

• NPO transfer funding & subsidies: Funding for transfers and subsidies to NPOs increased from R1.138 billion in 2025/26 to R1.190 billion in 2026/27.
• Child Care and Protection: Funding increased from R277 million in 2025/26 to R292 million in 2026/27.
• Child and Youth Care: Funding increased from R134 million in 2025/26 to R145 million in 2026/27. R5 million in additional funding is going towards the opening of a Child and Youth Care Centre for children at risk who are differently abled and the expansion of bedspaces for these children at existing CYCCs.
• SWIMS: R2 million in additional funding for the further roll-out of the Social Work Integrated Management System application to the NGO sector.
• Humanitarian & Food Relief: Funding will increase from R23.5 in 2025/26 million to R24.6 million. R2 million additional funding for nutritional support in disaster relief. R1.3 million in additional funding for bedspace expansion at homeless shelters in the Cape Metro. R2 million additional funding has been allocated for bedspace expansion at the family shelter in Somerset West.
• Older Persons: Funding will increase from R276 million in 2025/26 to R286 million in 2026/27. R12 million in additional funding will go towards subsidising bedspaces for non-frail destitute older persons.
• Services for Persons with Disabilities: Funding will increase from R233 million in 2025/26 to R235 million.
• Substance Abuse Prevention & Rehabilitation: Funding will increase from R122 million in 2025/26 to R128 million.
• Victim Empowerment Programme: Funding will increase from R80 million in 2025/26 to R83 million. R1.5 million additional funding is allocated to a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) shelter in Caledon. R1.5 million in additional funding will also be allocated to support services for survivors of abuse. R1 million additional funding will go towards the GBV Ambassador programme. R5.7 million has gone towards making 22 GBV shelters disability accessible.

Find the full budget speech here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/social-development/article/social-development-appropriation-bill-vote-7-0

Media Enquiries
Monique Mortlock-Malgas
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Jaco Londt
Department of Social Development
Email: Monique.Mortlock@westerncape.gov.za