National Treasury has allocated R5.1 billion as part of government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF).

While addressing the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Cape Town, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana informed the National Assembly that the funds have been allocated mainly to deploy an additional 3 500 social workers in provinces in efforts to strengthen prevention, early intervention, psychosocial support and victim empowerment.

“R3.8 billion to hire more than 3 500 social workers specifically to strengthen prevention in response to rising murders and attacks on women,” says Godongwana.

He further stated that an additional R186 million has been reprioritised to forensic services, investigative capacity to strengthen the criminal justice response.

According to Godongwana, these allocations match the growing numbers of sexual offences courts, care centres, victim support programmes and shelters for survivors.

“We are expanding sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and increasing the number of countrywide Thuthuzela Care Centres that provide support to rape victims, from 72 to 80, by 2028/29.”

Treasury says government expects savings of R6.2 billion to come from a decline in social grants beneficiaries, from 17.8 million in 2026/27 to 17.1 million by 2029/30 due to strengthened verification measures. Of that R6.2 billion, the government will allocate R5.1 billion to prevent GBV and femicide.

Graphic by Sibusiso Biyela

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