The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has raised alarm over the Gauteng Department of Social Development’s (GDSD) continued failure to spend its budget, leaving thousands of vulnerable children without essential support. According to the party, the department’s severe underspending has deprived families and children of food parcels, shelter services, trauma counselling, and critical child protection programmes.
The concerns were detailed by Refiloe Nt’sekhe MPL, the DA’s Gauteng Shadow MEC for Social Development, following the release of the GDSD’s 2024/25 Annual Report. The report highlights that the department failed to spend R90 million earmarked for children’s care and social support services.
R90 Million Unspent While Children Go Hungry
Instead of strengthening Gauteng’s safety net for at-risk children, the department’s budget underperformance has reportedly denied an estimated 32,000 children access to welfare services. These include:
- Food parcels
- Drop-in centres
- Foster care and adoption services
- Diversion programmes for young offenders
- Child and youth care centres
The DA says these unspent funds directly translate into suffering for children who rely on the state for basic nutrition, protection, and developmental support.
Breakdown of the Underspending: Key Programmes Affected
The annual report reveals major shortfalls across several critical programmes:
1. Programme 3: Children and Families – R5.5 Million Underspent
This programme funds:
- Shelters
- Child and youth care centres
- Community-based child protection initiatives
The underspending has weakened services meant to provide safe, nurturing environments for vulnerable children.
2. Programme 4: Restorative Services – R25 Million Left Unspent
This money was intended for:
- Trauma counselling
- Diversion services
- Support for child victims and young offenders
According to the DA, failing to use these funds denies children access to professional support that could prevent lifelong psychological harm or reoffending.
3. Programme 5: Development and Research – R59.8 Million Underspent
This programme funds:
- Food parcels
- Dignity packs
- Pro-poor initiatives
The DA criticises the department for failing to deliver basic nutrition support to children in the province’s poorest communities, despite the overwhelming demand.
DA: Poor Financial Controls Are Hurting Children
The DA argues that the underspending points to persistent challenges including:
- Weak financial controls
- Supply chain mismanagement
- Unfilled critical posts
- Slow procurement processes
- Administrative excuses such as “non-compliant shelters” and “unspent NPO allocations”
“These failures translate into the daily suffering of children who depend on these programmes for survival,” said Nt’sekhe.
DA Proposes Reforms to Safeguard Budgets for Child Welfare
The DA says it will intensify pressure on MEC Faith Mazibuko and the GDSD to ensure children’s budgets are not compromised by political interference or bureaucratic delays.
Under a DA-led Gauteng Provincial Government, the party says it would implement:
- A 30-day procurement turnaround for food parcels, dignity packs, and emergency shelters
- Immediate filling of vacant social worker and child protection posts
- A shift from politically driven projects to evidence-based, community-centred social development programmes
The party emphasises that protecting vulnerable children must be a non-negotiable priority.
