At a major UN conference in Qatar, Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe outlines South Africa’s strategy to use social grants as a springboard to employment, particularly for the youth.
DOHA, QATAR – South Africa is leveraging a global stage to showcase its evolving approach to social welfare, moving from pure grant distribution to a model that actively links beneficiaries with economic opportunities.
Social Development Minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe is representing the nation at the Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha, where she detailed how the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) prioritises connecting social protection to employment.
“We recognise that social grants are not a silver bullet,” Minister Tolashe stated during her engagements. “Our own National Development Plan (Vision 2030) recognises that linking grants to employment and job opportunities is the best form of social protection.”
A Focus on Youth and Economic Activation
The minister emphasized that the country’s greatest asset—its youth—remains trapped in cycles of poverty and unemployment. She outlined the government’s intent to “reimagine” social assistance to “activate youth participation in the economy by connecting grant recipients to the labour market.”
This strategy aligns with the summit’s core themes of poverty eradication, productive employment, and social inclusion. South Africa’s delegation, which includes the ministers of Planning and Employment, is positioning the country as actively seeking innovative solutions to universal challenges.
The summit, led by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, aims to renew the global commitment to social justice made in Copenhagen 30 years ago. It comes at a time when nations are grappling with new challenges like climate change and technological disruption.
From Safety Net to Springboard
Minister Tolashe’s remarks suggest a strategic pivot for South Africa’s extensive social grant system. The focus is shifting from providing a vital safety net to creating a springboard that can catapult recipients, especially the youth, into sustainable livelihoods.
“We are using social grants to generate better livelihoods that empower and transform beneficiaries’ lives,” she told the international audience.
This participation also serves a broader diplomatic and economic purpose. By sharing best practices, South Africa markets itself on the global stage, encouraging international partnerships, study tours, and business-linked tourism, which provide a return on the investment of attending.
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