Western Cape Department of Social Development Adjustment Budget: Scaling up social services for the vulnerable
On 11 December 2025 Western Cape Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt tabled the Western Cape Department of Social Development’s 2025/2026 Adjustment Budget in the Western Cape Provincial Parliament.
This is a mid-year financial update that reallocates funds to priority programmes, ensuring resources are directed where they are most urgently needed to strengthen service delivery and protect the province’s most vulnerable residents.
Minister Londt said:
“This year’s budget looks significantly different from last year’s. It reflects a department that continues to demonstrate resilience and innovation despite years of navigating a constrained fiscal environment.
The Department has received an increase of R34.220 million, bringing our adjusted allocation to R2,759,830,000.
As a department, we have achieved much with very little, and now, entrusted with a little more, we will scale up services to those who need them the most. This would not be possible without our dedicated management team and our hardworking staff, who respond to increasing service demands each day with compassion and commitment.
An additional R21 million in funding will strengthen several critical areas.”
Highlights from the speech include:
- Social Worker Integrated Management System – An additional R2 million has been allocated to expand the SWIMS application, bringing total amount to R6 million for this item.
- Early Adolescent Skills for Emotions – R2 million has been allocated to the EASE programme, a programme that delivers structured, evidence-based emotional regulation support to youth.
- TIME Programme – R2 million has been allocated to the TIME programme, which strengthens coping skills and emotional regulation in rural areas.
- Strengthening Care for Older Persons – An additional R15 million has been allocated to strengthen services for older persons, as well as an additional R6 million from a shifting of funds, bringing the total amount to the Older Persons programme from R254 million to R276 million.
- Independent living pilot programme – R1 million has been allocated for a new service dedicated to children exiting alternative residential care.
Find the full budget speech here: Department of Social Development Appropriation Bill – Vote 7 - Budget Speech | Western Cape Government
Media enquires
Monique Mortlock-Malgas
Media Liaison Officer to Minister Jaco Londt
Department of Social Development