Western Cape Department of Social Development Annual Report 2023/24

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) presented its Annual Report 2023/24 to the Western Cape Provincial Parliament (WCPP) today, which highlighted its ability to be responsive to the changing needs of vulnerable residents despite a financially constrained environment.

The year under review was marked by unprecedented in-year budget cuts across the country, increased demand for services in our province, and a number of disasters, adding further strain on resources.

The Department spent R2.474 billion on service delivery. This includes more than R1 billion in subsidies transferred to non-profit organisations to expand the reach of social welfare and community development services. The services provided by our partners to care for the vulnerable are invaluable and we thank them for the critical work they do. 

The Department received its 13th consecutive clean audit from the Auditor-General of South Africa, reflecting the Western Cape Government’s (WCG) unwavering commitment to good governance.

Western Cape Minister of Social Development, Jaco Londt, acknowledged this achievement, thanking DSD staff and management for their hard work and dedication to serving vulnerable residents of the province.

“The Department’s achievements are no small feat when one considers the fiscally constrained period we continue to find ourselves in. The Western Cape Government is fighting for its fair share of the national budget. DSD has been struggling to meet the ever-increasing demand for social services, with its limited resources, while ensuring it meets its constitutional and legislative mandates. Even Members of the Standing Committee acknowledged the uphill battle we have been facing, while commending the Department’s work,” said Minister Londt.

He added, “But we have not been sitting idly while waiting for national government to realise the immense pressures we are under as the vulnerability of communities deepens. I have made it my mission – along with DSD management – to find ways for us to become more resilient, by discussing partnerships with international and local organisations to strengthen our position and expand our footprint. We cannot afford to let down those we serve: children, older persons, survivors of abuse and domestic violence. These are the people we serve, and these are the people we are fighting for.”

Some of the Department’s achievements include:

Child Protection: Focusing on early intervention and prevention services, 11 224 children accessed community-based care and protection intervention services, including 86 children with disabilities, through 26 funded Risiha sites as well as drop-in centres in the communities where these children live.

Social workers placed 3 489 children in foster care, increasing the total number of active foster care cases in the province to 40 043 by the end of March 2024. In addition, 3 321 parents and caregivers completed parent education and training programmes.

Care and Services to Families: An increase in demand saw 25 925 families participate in family preservation and support services.

The Department subsidised 2 454 bed spaces in shelters for homeless adults and also reunified 736 people with their families.

Older Persons: The Department subsidised 4 756 bed spaces at old age homes, and funded 12 128 beneficiaries for community-based services. 

Disabilities: A total of 5 472 persons with disabilities and their families or caregivers accessed various services, of whom 1 033 beneficiaries visited community-based day care centres.

Social Relief: DSD officials assessed 7 027 cases as incidents of floods and fires increased. During the Eskom outage in the Central Karoo, DSD social workers and community development workers delivered and distributed 5 000 food parcels to households, benefitting more than 20 000 people.

Poverty Alleviation & Sustainable Livelihoods: In addressing food insecurity, relief interventions were offered to 341 995 vulnerable persons who accessed cooked meals at the 102 CNDCs and 358 community kitchens across the province.

Gender-Based Violence: 2 120 women and their children received shelter services at 26 facilities. An increase in demand resulted in 24 564 clients accessing psychosocial support. Furthermore, 6 168 victims of GBV accessed DSD-funded psychosocial support services at Thuthuzela Care Centres.

Social Crime Prevention: 10 761 learners participated in school- and community-based crime prevention programmes in identified rural and urban hotspot areas.

Substance Use Disorder: 20 treatment centres were registered, bringing the total number of registered substance abuse treatment facilities in the province to 91. A total of 8 527 clients received substance use disorder services and 1 165 learners accessed prevention and early intervention services through school-based programmes.

Youth: A total of 14 538 youth participated in training and mentoring programmes offered by community-based organisations and at Youth Cafés.

Sanitary Dignity: The Department distributed more than 35 474 boxes (1,7million packs) of sanitary pads to girls in 365 schools, as well as child and youth care residential facilities.

A copy of the DSD Annual Report 2023-24 can be accessed on our website: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/dept/social-development/documents/annual_reports/2024