Over 4 000 surge in OVC grant beneficiaries

THE number of pupils whose school fees are paid for by the office of the deputy prime minister under the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grant has increased by 4 761 in the 2025/2026 financial year.

According to the report of the deputy prime minister’s office for the 2025/2026 financial year, tabled by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla in Parliament on Monday, the education grant remained one of the most valuable interventions, supporting a total of 67 438 orphaned and vulnerable children nationwide, with equitable coverage across all four regions.

This comes at a time when legislators once raised concerns that there were children placed under the OVC grants who were not supposed to benefit. The office had previously indicated that it would vet learners applying for the fund going forward.

Dladla stated that compared to the previous financial year, beneficiary numbers increased by 4 761, representing a 7.06 per cent rise. The number of learners sitting for external examinations who are beneficiaries of the grant increased by 12.06 per cent, reflecting both growing demand and expanded coverage.

Under the OVC grant, Dladla said the department of social welfare continued to offer financial support to 67 438 orphaned and vulnerable children.

Regionally, Hhohho recorded 16 258 beneficiaries, while Manzini had 17 544. Lubombo had 16 850 beneficiaries and Shiselweni recorded 16 786.

She added that E91 178 558 was paid as balance to 287 secondary and high schools across the country.

Dladla further noted that the office also takes care of pupils in completing classes. A total of 23 765 beneficiaries under the OVC grant had their examination fees fully paid in Form III and Form V.

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This financial year, E48 248 890 was paid to the Examinations Council of Eswatini for OVC learners writing external examinations.

On the other hand, Dladla stated that elderly grant beneficiaries under her department stood at 90 073, with each beneficiary receiving E600 per month. The office paid E487 083 477 for elderly grants in the last financial year.

She explained that the payment mode for the elderly grant was through Mobile Money (MoMo) at a charge of E9 per beneficiary, while commercial banks charged E25 per beneficiary.

However, following negotiations with commercial banks, all had agreed to reduce the E25 charge to E9. The change will take effect in the 2026/2027 financial year.

Currently, there are 18 563 beneficiaries under the disability grant. During the reporting period, the office increased disability grant beneficiaries by 1 589 effective from April 2025.

A total of E71 403 417 was paid under the disability grants last year.