How the Western Cape's R2.897 billion budget will support social services
Western Cape’s R2.897bn social development budget targets growing demand for support among the province’s most vulnerable.
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The Western Cape has set aside R2.897 billion for social development in the 2026/27 financial year, as demand for support services continues to rise across vulnerable communities.
Tabling the budget on Tuesday, Social Development MEC Jaco Londt said the increase reflects a continued focus on delivering services “with kindness and care” despite mounting economic pressure.
“Our department has persevered through immense challenges, such as a grim global economic outlook, and increased demand in services that fail to match scarce resources,” Londt said.
The allocation marks a 4.98% increase from R2.760 billion in 2025/26, with funding directed towards programmes supporting children, older persons, people with disabilities and those affected by substance abuse and violence.
A significant portion of the budget, R1.190 billion, will go towards non-profit organisations (NPOs), which deliver a significant share of frontline services on behalf of the state. Previous reporting has highlighted that non-profit organisations deliver a significant share of frontline services supporting vulnerable residents across the province.
Provincial Standing Committee on Social Development chairperson Wendy Kaizer-Philander has previously stressed the importance of sustained investment in these services, particularly as communities face ongoing hardship.
Funding for child care and protection will increase to R292 million, while child and youth care services will rise to R145 million. Additional allocations include funding for a specialised child and youth care centre for differently abled children at risk, as well as expanded bed capacity at existing facilities.
Support for older persons will grow to R286 million, including additional funding to subsidise accommodation for non-frail, destitute elderly residents.
Programmes aimed at addressing substance abuse will receive R128 million, while services for persons with disabilities will increase slightly to R235 million.
The victim empowerment programme will receive R83 million, with added funding for gender-based violence shelters, survivor support services and improvements to make facilities more accessible to persons with disabilities.
Humanitarian and food relief funding will increase to R24.6 million, including allocations for disaster-related nutritional support and expanded shelter capacity in the Cape Metro and Somerset West.
The department will also invest R2 million into expanding the Social Work Integrated Management System into the NGO sector to improve coordination and service delivery.
Londt said the department would continue working to stretch limited resources.
“This does not mean we are complacent… we are working harder than ever to ensure that the money we are entrusted with continues to stretch for the benefit of the residents we serve, especially the most vulnerable,” he said.