R3.8bn for 3,500 new social workers: the mini-budget's GBV plan

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana set aside R3.8 billion to hire more than 3,500 social workers to fight gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), in his medium-term budget policy statement on 21 October 2026 (Budget speech).

The money gives effect to the GBVF measures President Cyril Ramaphosa announced in September (IOL).

Where is the GBVF money going?

• R3.8 billion to hire more than 3,500 social workers, aimed at prevention as murders of and attacks on women rise (Budget speech).
• R186 million for forensic and investigative capacity, to help police and prosecutors build GBV cases (Budget speech).
• R157.4 million extra for the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to coordinate and oversee government's GBVF response (Budget speech).

Together these three amounts come to about R4.14 billion. IOL reported the total package as more than R4.19 billion (IOL). The speech itself does not give a single total.

How many sexual offences courts and care centres will there be?

Sexual offences courts will grow from 55 to 101, almost doubling. Thuthuzela Care Centres, which support rape survivors, will go from 72 to 80. The speech sets 2028/29 as the target (Budget speech).

When will the new social workers start?

The speech gives no start date or province breakdown for the 3,500 posts (Budget speech).

Where can you get help now?

The national GBV Command Centre runs a free 24-hour line on 0800 428 428. Government's GBV page also lists Thuthuzela Care Centres near you (gov.za). In an emergency, call SAPS on 10111.