Abstract: Submission #34

Abstract In South Africa, social protection is constitutionally recognised as a fundamental human right and a mechanism to safeguard against poverty and inadequate living standards. During the recent 2025/26 budget speech, the Minister of Finance allocated R284.7 billion for the disbursement of social grants—affirming this intervention as a cornerstone of the government's response to persistent high levels of poverty, unemployment, and inequality. However, to ensure that grant recipients evolve from passive beneficiaries to active agents in their own development, the National Department of Social Development has initiated a series of roundtable discussions focused on linking social protection mechanisms with sustainable livelihood opportunities. A growing body of literature underscores the urgent need for targeted financial empowerment initiatives to facilitate this transition from poverty to sustainable economic engagement. Within this context, financial literacy emerges as a critical strategy for empowerment—one that can be effectively delivered through the social work profession. By equipping individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to manage personal and household finances—including earning, spending, saving, borrowing, and investing—financial literacy interventions can play a pivotal role in enhancing economic self-sufficiency. The authors contend that integrating financial literacy into the broader framework of social protection not only strengthens the efficacy of social grants but also aligns with the objectives of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as poverty eradication, zero hunger, and reduced inequalities. This paper critically examines the imperative of embedding financial literacy interventions within South Africa’s social protection strategy and explores their potential to foster sustainable livelihoods among vulnerable populations.