In response to the recent spate of murders and attacks on women, government has reprioritised R3.8 billion over the 2027 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period to appoint 3 552 social workers.
It has also allocated R186 million to strengthen the criminal justice response by increasing forensic and investigative capacity.
This, according to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, who delivered the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) during a sitting of the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Godongwana said the funds give effect to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement concerning the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
READ | Four-point plan to aid the GBVF fight
“We are expanding sexual offences courts from 55 to 101 and increasing the number of countrywide Thuthuzela Care Centres that provide support to rape victims, from 72 to 80, by 2028/29.
“To improve national coordination and oversight of government’s response to GBVF, an additional R157.4 million is allocated to the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities,” he said.
Meanwhile, over the MTEF period, R556.7 million will be reprioritised to sustain HIV and AIDS services following the withdrawal of funding from the United States President’s
Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This will supplement the R3.8 billion reprioritised through the district health programmes grant. – SAnews.gov.za
