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The expansion of social grants has been one of the most significant redistributive measures in democratic South Africa. Grants now support millions of children, older persons, and people with disabilities.
 (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Social development budget is not fit for purpose

The under-investment in cash transfers and caring services by the government suggests that many may well fall still further behind

New Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. (David Harrison/M&G)

Majodina is ready to whip, dressed to kill

Pemmy Majodina returns to the parliamentary precinct after having served as a member of the National Council of Provinces between 1999 and 2004

Sassa has less than five months to find a replacement to deliver cash grants by the September 30 deadline.

Shabangu promises Sassa will comply with ConCourt order

Social development minister promises Sassa grants will continue to be paid and that their obligations to the Constitutional Court will be met

Newly appointed acting CEO of Eskom, Jabu Mabuza. (Gallo)

Dlamini misses ConCourt deadline, says she didn’t

The social development minister missed every deadline during a process in which she was found responsible for a crisis around the payment of grants.

The upgrade to the road linking Nxamalala to Nkandla and Jacob Zuma’s homestead cost R292-million. Other roads in the Nxamalala area are potholed  and impassable when it rains.

Bathabile Dlamini misses another Constitutional Court deadline

The social development minister has missed a deadline to explain to the Court why she should not pay legal fees from her own pocket.

Sibusiso Emanuel Tshabalala

Ex social development deputy director general says break-in an ‘act of intimidation’

The National Police Commissioner promised to pursue the matter to establish the identities of the officers who dissuaded him from opening a case.

Court torture ruling shows up Mogoeng’s true colours

Social grants crisis tests the powers of Constitutional Court

The judiciary stands to gain more legitimacy if it manages to confront the impunity of Sassa and Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.

Court torture ruling shows up Mogoeng’s true colours

Bathabile Dlamini, Sassa acting CEO file late affidavits to Concourt

Dlamini did not apologise for her late submission, but instead said she had ‘made every reasonable effort to comply with this court’s directives’.

Some supporters of former president Jacob Zuma believe that

Sassa dragged its feet on grants transition matter, CPS affidavit shows

An affidavit filed by the social grants distributor details the correspondence between the company, Sassa and the social development minister.

“I use colour to disarm the viewer’’ — Athi-Patra Ruga

Extending Net 1 social welfare contract would be unlawful, says Pravin Gordhan

The social development department’s ability to continue to make monthly welfare payments to about 17-million people is in jeopardy.

Find out which departments need to step up to make free pads a reality for people who menstruate.

‘​We need national buy-in to provide sanitary pads to poor women and girl learners’

The Kwazulu-Natal education department has set aside R50-million to fund the distribution of pads to schools in the four lowest quintiles.

Three women who work for a loan shark wait for grant recipients at Thembalihle township in the Free State to repay the loans they have taken.

Social development department ignores Reserve Bank, imperils welfare for 17-million

The department may have to extend its deal with Net 1 UEPS to continue with the R129-billion in annual payments when the contract ends in April.

Gauteng health and social development minister Ntombi Mekgwe will take over as government and housing minister.

Gauteng social development leaves R90m unspent

Despite the welfare sector’s shortage of money, the Gauteng social development department has underspent its welfare budget by R90-million.

Institutions such as Nkanyezi Stimulation Centre in Soweto

Short change for a tall order of social development

The problem with the budget allocated for social development services is nowhere near adequate to meet the needs in the sector, writes Jackie Loffell.

With no basic services such as electricity and running water

A broken system cannot fix the broken people

The Mail & Guardian’s Heidi Swart spent a heartbreaking few years trying to save children. These are her stories.

Aids testing serves a vital function in South Africa.

Gauteng Social Development 2012/13 Budget Vote speech

This is a shortened version of the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s budget speech delivered on May 29 2012 by MEC Nandi Mayathola-Khoza.

Gauteng MEC of Agriculture

Gauteng on equality drive

Social development in SA is beset with numerous challenges as government tries to balance addressing short-term priorities with development needs.

State allocates extra R87m for the poor

An extra R87-million has been allocated to help people living in extreme poverty, Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya said on Thursday. The money was in addition to funds…