Meet the new Minister of Social Development

Who is the new 2024 Minister of Social Development in President Cyril Ramaphosa’s seventh administration? Her name is Sisisi Tolashe, and she now oversees all South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants as well as the Department of Social Development (DSD).  

The new 2024 Minister of Social Development – who is also President of the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL) – follows in the footsteps of Lindiwe Zulu who was ousted last month. Sisisi Tolashe’s Deputy Minister is Al Jama-ah’s leader, Ganief Hendricks, and together they will be in charge of caring for South Africa’s most vulnerable members of society. No small task …

WHO IS THE 2024 MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?

Sisisi Tolashe (64) has a wealth of experience with the ANC. She’s been a member of parliament since 2016 across several portfolio committees. According to The Citizen, she served as mayor of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality within the Chris Hani district in the Eastern Cape. And also has experience as a deputy within the Presidency for women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Being elevated to 2024 Minister of Social Development is unarguably her biggest professional challenge yet. SASSA grants are disbursed to nearly 30-million needy South Africans each month. From old-age pensions to childcare recipients and Social Relief of Distress (SRD), Stats SA says one out of every two households in the country receives some form of social grant. Plus, nearly one out of every four homes actually qualify as indigent, so prevalent is poverty in the country currently.  

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE CHANGED?

Some of the challenges on the horizon for the new 2024 Minister of Social Development are streamlining the payment process. Social Welfare is one of the biggest spends annually by the National Treasury (3.6% of GDP). However, thousands complain monthly about difficulty in receiving their SASSA grants. Many have reached out to us saying they would like the payment window moved, too. Of course, there is the issue of SASSA grants not being enough to keep pace with food inflation, forcing many old-age pensioners to go without chronic medication and electricity just to keep food on the table.

Previously, the ANC said a Basic Income Grant (BIG) would come into being as soon as 2026. This would be a reworking of the R370 SRD grant, which is only slated to run till March 2025. Will Sisisi Tolashe and deputy Ganief Hendricks have the chops to fund and maintain such an extensive programme? Hendricks founded Al Jama-ah in 2007 and has spent years in community service. He is a former teacher, industrial psychology lecturer and founder of MWEB, too. Although Hendricks is Tolashe’s deputy, with his impeccable background, he is likely to assert his influence regularly on the portfolio.