The National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA) acknowledges the reduced VAT increase from 2% to 0.5% as a minor relief for shelters but remains deeply concerned about the broader funding gaps and Treasury’s weak response to addressing gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in the national budget.
While the slower rise in costs slightly alleviates immediate financial pressures, shelters remain in an unsustainable financial position, struggling to provide essential services to survivors.
“The reality is that even a 0.5% VAT increase – which will eventually add up to a 1% increase in 2026 – still translates to higher costs for food, utilities, security, and other operational essentials,” said NSMSA Board Member, Greer Schoeman.
“Many shelters across the country are already operating on shoestring budgets, relying on underpaid and unpaid labour. This budget once again fails to acknowledge the essential role shelters play in the fight against GBV and prevent femicide.”
Despite the government’s stated commitment to improving efficiency and accountability in public spending, the budget speech failed to make any explicit allocations for shelters or GBV interventions. While social grants and infrastructure projects received some increased funding, no dedicated resources were earmarked for the vital services that support survivors.
“The government’s silence on direct shelter funding is a glaring omission,” said Dr Zubeda Dangor, NSMSA’s Executive Head. “We cannot expect to make meaningful progress against gender-based violence if shelters remain underfunded and overburdened. Survivors need more than just emergency accommodation – they need long-term housing, skills development, and psychosocial support to break the cycle of violence.”
The government’s R1 trillion infrastructure investment also fails to include any direct capital allocation for expanding shelter capacity or second-stage housing. Without plans for safe long-term accommodation and economic reintegration programmes, many survivors are forced to return to unsafe environments, undoing the critical work shelters strive to achieve.
Furthermore, NSMSA remains concerned about the inefficiencies and bureaucratic bottlenecks in the disbursement of funds. While the budget speech emphasized government efficiency reviews, it did not provide clarity on how GBV-related funding would be monitored to ensure it reaches the ground without delays or mismanagement. The absence of a clear anti-corruption strategy in GBV funding raises further concerns about transparency and accountability.
NSMSA is urging the government to take immediate action to ensure that shelters are adequately funded and supported. “Shelters need dedicated, ring-fenced funding within the GBV response framework,” said Dangor. “At the very least, there should be VAT exemptions or rebates for essential shelter-related purchases, so that the limited resources we have can go further in supporting survivors.”
Dangor added that delays in funding allocation continue to harm shelters and the people they serve. “Shelters are already stretched to their limits, and the government must ensure that funds are disbursed transparently and on time. It is unacceptable that bureaucratic inefficiencies and mismanagement continue to leave shelters in financial limbo when the need for their services is greater than ever.”
NSMSA also highlights the need for collaboration beyond government intervention. “We must expand public-private partnerships to secure alternative funding sources,” says NSMSA. “Corporate and civil society involvement is essential in filling the gaps left by inadequate government funding.”
In addition to financial support, investing in education is a crucial long-term strategy for breaking cycles of violence and economic dependence. “Keeping girls in school is one of the most effective ways to prevent GBV and femicide,” said Dangor. “Education empowers young women with the skills and opportunities they need to escape abusive situations and build independent futures. Allocations must include measures that seek to ensure the education and upskilling of the country’s women.”
NSMSA emphasised that shelters are not just emergency spaces but vital economic contributors. “Shelters provide survivors with skills development and psychosocial support that enable them to rejoin society and contribute to economic growth. If the government is serious about addressing GBV and femicide and fostering economic development, then it must invest in the organisations that make this possible. South Africa cannot afford to let shelters collapse under financial strain while the GBV crisis continues. This is not just a social issue. It is an economic one. Investing in shelters is investing in the safety and economic empowerment of women and children.”
NSMSA urges the government to move beyond rhetoric and take decisive action to ensure shelters and GBV services receive the necessary funding and resources. Survivors deserve more than empty promises – they deserve a future free from violence and economic insecurity. Treasury is critical to this.
To donate to the NSMSA, visit www.nsmsa.org.za/donate.
National Shelter Movement of South Africa