Mbabane – The deputy prime minister’s (DPM) office spent E993 000 in claims for the burial of 331 elderly people during the 2025/26 financial year.
According to the yearly report, the office processed 331 claims from the four regions, amounting to E993 000.
In the Hhohho region, the office processed 85 claims, of which 46 were males and 39 were females.
The office processed 104 claims in the Manzini region. From these claims, 61 were males while 43 were females.
In Lubombo, 51 claims were processed. Of these, 22 were for males while 29 were for females.
The office then processed 91 elderly funeral assistance claims in the Shiselweni region, from which 39 were for males while 52 were for females.
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Meanwhile, 309 cases involving children in conflict with the law were referred to the Department of Social Welfare by the police in 2025.
According to the DPM’s performance report for the 2025/2026 financial year, the Department of Social Services conducted age assessments, prepared court reports and facilitated court preparation sessions for children scheduled to appear in court.
The report further indicated that a comparison with the 2024/25 financial year showed that 263 cases were reported then, compared to 309 cases received in the current reporting year.
“The reduction may be attributed to parents’ recognition of their role in providing guidance and support to their children. Moreover, ongoing educational awareness initiatives in schools, conducted by the office in partnership with stakeholders, have played a significant role in the decline,” reads the report.
