Chikunga told the National Assembly that the budget comes at a time when households continue to face high food, fuel and cost-of-living pressures due to the current geopolitical tensions.
The bulk of the allocation will go toward direct social grants. At the same time, the government is also moving to accelerate the modernisation of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), expand interventions against poverty, and strengthen responses to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).
Of the total budget, R293bn is allocated to monthly social assistance grants for children, older persons and persons with disabilities.
The government also confirmed continued funding for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which has been extended until March 2027 and will support approximately eight million working-age individuals who are unable to support themselves.
An additional R36.4bn has been allocated for the continuation of the SRD grant, alongside funds to cover administrative and staffing adjustments within Sassa and the department.
“We welcome the grant increases announced by the Minister of Finance, while acknowledging that the child support grant remains below the food poverty line.
“However, the child support grant remains one of the most significant tools to combat child poverty and facilitate transitions to sustainable livelihoods,” the minister said.
The department said work is underway on the broader basic income support policy, with costing models already finalised following the cabinet submission of the draft framework.
Officials are also exploring linkages between social protection and employment pathways, including pilot programmes that connect child support grant recipients to sustainable livelihood opportunities in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State.
“We intend to expand this initiative to all other provinces in the current financial year and beyond,” Chikunga said.
A key highlight of the budget speech was progress in modernising Sassa systems and tightening grant administration controls.
The department reported that intensified grant reviews have already saved over R1bn, which has been redirected to other priorities.
“As the agency expands this digital footprint, we are strengthening cybersecurity to protect beneficiary information and safeguard system integrity.
“We will also expedite lifestyle audits for Sassa employees, beginning with officials in high-risk areas, including grant administration, finance, information and communications technology (ICT) and procurement,” Chikunga said.
The minister highlighted the positive outcomes linked to social grants, particularly the child support grant.
Of the 729,650 learners who wrote matric in 2025, 84.2% were recipients of the grant. The matric pass rate among grant beneficiaries rose from 74% in 2021 to 84.9% in 2025, while bachelor's passes improved from 33.2% to 41.9%.
The department said these outcomes demonstrate the broader developmental impact of social protection, with many beneficiaries progressing to tertiary education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and entering the labour market.
The department also placed strong emphasis on tackling GBVF, which has been classified as a national disaster.
The government currently supports 142 shelters nationwide, with 47 districts covered.
Five districts remain without shelter access, which the department said will be prioritised in the current financial year.
The Gender-Based Violence Command Centre has received more than 39,000 calls since the start of the year.
Chikunga condemned recent violent incidents, including alleged mob justice cases, and called for stronger law enforcement response and increased public reporting of abuse through the toll-free line.
During his budget vote, the acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, announced that the government has set aside R1.6bn for activities related to the fight against GBVF, with an additional R50m allocated to provincial baselines.
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