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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Research reports show that there is an increase in the billion expected to be spent during this financial year.
number of unplanned pregnancies among young The state is constantly updating its models to ensure
girls. Although it is too early to tell if this phenomenon sustainability of its social protection system while
will result in an increase in the country’s birth rate, ensuring that such investments assist beneficiaries
especially since the trend is not yet established, this is to graduate from dependency on social grants to
however bound to result in an increased in applications greater participation in the labour market and other
for social grants as teenagers have little prospect of forms of economic inclusion. Although several other
independently raising children without social security. initiatives are in place to address inequalities, these
tend to be measured mainly in economic terms and
Statistics have noted a continued upward trend in these gains have overshadowed the focus on social
poverty, with the number of people who are living inequalities. The State should thus strengthen its
below the food poverty line constituting about 25% of response programmes that include, but not limited
the population. This was perpetuated by the July 2021 to victim empowerment support; implementation of
unrest in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and other parts of the the National Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS; food security
country. As a knock on effect, the Labour Force Survey and community mobilisation programmes. It must be
(third quarter of 2021) report that the unemployment noted that for optimal response to address social ills,
rate in South Africa stands 34.9% with women and government requires stronger partnership with civil
children being the hardest hit. society and as such more work is required to support
non-governmental organisations that offer many
To caution the effects of poverty, the country has critical services in various communities.
implemented a temporal SDR grant for unemployed
youth. This grant used in the main, digital platform for The DSD remains the centre of government’s initiatives
application and means-testing. Digital platforms for to improve the quality of life for all persons in the
efficient social services seem to be the future of how country. To this end, the Department uses a social policy
the State interacts with is citizens and there is a need to approach as well as monitoring and evaluation of its
explore innovations related to digitalisation of service policies to facilitate and promote the development of
platforms. Furthermore, this grant has managed to evidence-based planning that takes social challenges
keep the lower-bound poverty rate down. This grant into consideration. This will ensure that the plans
has been implemented along the side-lines of scaled up and programmes of the Department are strategically
community based food distribution efforts. More work targeted and underpinned by robust evidence, which
on the sustainability of these interventions needs to be will improve the Department’s chances of successful
finalised while devising means to decrease dependency implementation.
on state sponsored interventions.
While demand for services kept on increasing, in the
It must be noted that for optimal response to address areas of food, gender based violence and femicide,
social ills, government requires stronger partnership psychosocial support post severe covid, The DSD
with civil society and as such more work is required remains the centre of government’s initiatives to
to support non-governmental organisations that offer improve the quality of life for all persons in the country.
many critical services in various communities. To this end, the Department uses a social policy
approach as well as monitoring and evaluation of its
The DSD mandate on social development approach policies to facilitate and promote the development of
places it at the centre of government’s initiatives to evidence-based planning that takes social challenges
improve the quality of life for all persons in the country. into consideration. This will ensure that the plans
To this end, the Department, as a learning organisation and programmes of the Department are strategically
closely monitors and evaluates its programmes targeted and underpinned by robust evidence, which
and policies. This is important to ensure that all will improve the Department’s chances of successful
interventions are correctly targeted and implemented implementation.
effectively and efficiently. Furthermore, the social
policy approach assist the Department in ensuring that The Department adopted a result based approach,
evidence-based planning that takes social challenges using the science, data, reports, research and evaluation,
into consideration. This will ensure that the plans these include Conducting three Rapid Assessment
and programmes of the Department are strategically Studies on (i) The implementation and utilisation of the
targeted and underpinned by robust evidence, which R350 COVID-19 SRD Grant. (ii) Key monitoring indicators
will improve the Department’s chances of successful measuring the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on child
implementation. well-being in South Africa. (iii) The effectiveness and
impact of the Social Sector’s response to Food Relief
Inequality in the country has been an on-going Mechanisms.
concern for the State. South Africa has continued In addressing challenges experienced by persons with
to grow its social protection system with over R220 disabilities, the Department will implement Guidelines
on Respite Care Services for Families of Children and
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ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN