Concern over funding squeeze on Legal Aid and SIU

South Africa's Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development has expressed serious concerns about the severe underfunding plaguing two of the country's most crucial law enforcement and legal assistance entities. The Citizen reports that it warned that budget constraints are undermining their ability to serve the public effectively. During last week’s parliamentary session, committee members received troubling briefings from both the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) and Legal Aid SA regarding their annual performance plans and budgets for the 2025-26 financial year, revealing a funding crisis that threatens the very foundations of these institutions’ operations. The committee, during the meeting, heard that over the past nine years, proclamations requiring SIU intervention surged by 52%. These figures are contradictory to the unit’s staff complement, which grew by a mere 6.5% during the same period. The committee’s spokesperson, Rajaa Azzakani said: ‘SIU’s grant income in 2025-26 is R459 860 000, with R481 157 000 estimated for 2026-27, less than R489 839 000 it received in 2023-24, despite the SIU having grown and recovered more funds for the government.’ Legal Aid SA faces its own funding nightmare, grappling with a devastating R239m budget reduction for the 2025/26 financial year. Committee Chairperson Xola Nqola acknowledged the critical nature of the situation, stating: ‘Both have suffered from underfunding or budget cuts. The committee will engage with all necessary to see how we better finance entities that are doing excellent and important work, but whose work is being hampered due to funding constraints.’

Full report in The Citizen