Social Development
Following the reduction of over R20 million in job-related allocations during the 2026/27 budget adjustments:
Whether this funding has been reinstated; if not, how is the Department addressing the ongoing capacity and employment constraints; if so, what are the relevant details?
During the 2025/26 Adjustments Budget, the Department’s Compensation of Employees (COE) allocation was reduced from R1 225 051 000 to R1 205 051 000, representing a reduction of R20 million.
This reduction was primarily due to delays in recruitment processes, higher than anticipated staff exits, and posts not being filled as originally projected, including instances where suitable candidates could not be appointed within the financial year as well as internal promotions that resulted in vacancies on the lower levels. The resultant projected underspending on COE necessitated an adjustment to the Department’s allocation.
The reduction remained in place for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year.
In the 2026/27 financial year, the Department’s COE allocation increased to R1 295 246 000, thereby reinstating and strengthening the employment baseline.
The increase from the adjusted 2025/26 COE allocation of R1 205 051 000 to R1 295 246 000 represents an increase of R90 195 000 year on year, and a net increase of R70 195 000 compared to the original 2025/26 COE allocation prior to the reduction.
The reinstated funding provides for the stabilisation of staffing levels, the funding of cost of employment pressures including wage agreement obligations, and improved capacity to fill funded critical posts, subject to affordability.
The Department intends to prioritise critical post-filling and talent pipelines: Ring-fence funding for essential social work and developmental practitioner posts and expand EPWP cadetships to build local capacity. The Department also intends to utilise AI-based recruitment software to enhance efficiency in values-based hiring and competency-driven selection and developing a WCG Talent Management Matrix to address career pathways and retention.
