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Government shifts R3.8 billion to hire 3 552 social workers

Published

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the money in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday, after a spate of murders and attacks on women. He also allocated R186 million to strengthen the criminal justice response to gender-based violence and femicide.

Godongwana spoke in the National Assembly. He said the R3.8 billion is reprioritised over the 2027 MTEF period. He said the funds give effect to President Cyril Ramaphosa's announcement on the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide.

The R186 million will increase forensic and investigative capacity. Sexual offences courts will grow from 55 to 101 by 2028/29. Thuthuzela Care Centres will increase from 72 to 80 in the same period.

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities gets an extra R157.4 million for coordination and oversight of the fight against gender-based violence and femicide.

Government is also reprioritising funds for HIV and AIDS services after the withdrawal of US PEPFAR funding. It will move R556.7 million over the MTEF period to sustain those services.

Key facts

Who
Enoch Godongwana (Finance Minister); Cyril Ramaphosa (President)
What
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, delivering the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in the National Assembly, said government reprioritised R3.8 billion to appoint 3 552 social workers and allocated R186 million to strengthen the criminal justice response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Funding for HIV and AIDS services is also being reprioritised following the withdrawal of US…
When
21 October 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

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