Overview of CSI spend on social and community development in 2025

National context  

• Government’s budget for social development increased from R397 billion in 2024/25 to R422 billion in 2025/26, constituting 16% of consolidated government expenditure of R2.59 trillion. Of this, R117 billion was allocated to the old-age grant, R99 billion to social security funds and R90 billion to the child support grant. A total of R77 billion was allocated to other grants, provincial social development, and policy oversight and grant administration.  
• The budget for community development is R286 billion for 2025/26, accounting for 11% of the consolidated government expenditure. Most of this is earmarked for local municipalities, public transport and human settlements.  
• As of 31 March 2025, the total number of grant beneficiaries was just over 12 million, according to the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). SASSA paid out 19 million grants to these beneficiaries, as many people receive more than one grant (e.g. a caregiver receiving multiple child support grants). Around 13 million child support grants (R560 per child per month) 4.1 million old-age grants (R2 310 per recipient per month) and 1 million disability grants (R2 310 per recipient per month) were paid out. 
• Additionally, SASSA told Parliament that over 17 million people had applied for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant since its introduction during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. In March, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the extension of the SRD grant to 31 March 2026. The grant was increased in April 2024 from R350 to R370 a month. According to National Treasury, R35.2 billion was allocated to extend the SRD grant at R370 per beneficiary, including administration costs. 
• The World Bank estimates that South Africa’s poverty rate has increased from 66% of the population living below the upper middle-income poverty line of US$8.30 per day in 2015 to 68% in 2025. 
• Stats SA data indicate that the total number of unemployed people increased to 8.4 million during the second quarter of 2025, equating to a national unemployment rate of 33.2%, with a youth unemployment rate of 46.1% (for individuals aged 15–34 years). The expanded unemployment rate, which includes those not actively looking for work, stood at 42.9% overall and 62.1% for youth.  

Overview of CSI spend  

Social and community development was supported by 84% of companies and received 14% of average CSI expenditure. 

• Youth (ages 14 to 34 years) remained the primary beneficiaries in the social and community development sector in 2025, receiving 42% of expenditure on average.  
• The percentage of CSI spend on orphans and vulnerable children increased from 13% in 2024 to 17% in 2025. 
• Unemployed persons moved from being the second to the third most supported beneficiary group, with average spend declining from 15% in 2024 to 11% in 2025. 
• All other beneficiary groups received less than 10% of average CSI sector spend in 2025, including victims of violence and abuse, the aged, people with disabilities, people with HIV/Aids, homeless people and the LGBTQ+ community. Animals received 1% on average. 

• On average, almost half of CSI expenditure on social and community development (47%) went to supporting welfare organisations and programmes, up from 39% in 2024.  
• Infrastructure, facilities and equipment received the second-largest share of CSI spend in this sector (22%), down from 25% in 2024. 
• Surprisingly, average CSI spend on job-creation programmes in this sector declined considerably, from 30% in 2023 to 16% in 2025.