Also known as: MGECW
Government ministry administering social grants, child protection services, and juvenile justice in Namibia, currently pausing new grant registrations due to funding depletion.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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Informanté
The Ministry has explained that children aged 14 and older have legal right to consent to certain medical treatments
“Children aged 14 and older in Namibia have the legal right to consent to certain medical treatments if they understand the benefits and risks, even when parents refuse consent based on cultural or religious beliefs, the Ministry has explained.”
Child Care Act safeguards minors’ access to healthcareThe Namibian
Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has been described as rusted and failing in protecting children children from sexual offenders and rapists
“They say 'uncles', men, teachers, the police and the rusted machines of a failing Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare have allowed sexual offenders and rapists to thrive while women and children cower below a tombstone of apathy, victim blaming and incompetence.”
Suffer the ChildrenThe Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has established a priority framework for the Vulnerable Grant, placing families with twins or triplets, households facing extreme food insecurity, and children unable to attend school due to financial hardship at the front of the queue for assistance.
16 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has established a priority framework for the Vulnerable Grant, placing families with twins or triplets, households facing extreme food insecurity, and children unable to attend school due to financial hardship at the front of the queue for assistance.
16 October 2026 · New Era →
The auditor general found that N$43.83 million in social grant payments were processed for 3,922 beneficiaries confirmed as deceased during the 2024/25 financial year, with payments continuing for over two months after their deaths. The audit also identified 3,350 duplicate child grant records and N$28.79 million in duplicate payments to 2,778 beneficiaries.
15 October 2026 · New Era →
An audit of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare found that the government paid N$323 million in child grants to ineligible recipients and deceased persons, including N$28.8 million in duplicate payments to 2,778 beneficiaries and N$250 million annually to 32,890 adults aged 19–21 who no longer qualified under the Child Care and Protection Act.
13 October 2026 · The Namibian →
The Basic Income Grant Coalition is calling on the government to secure funding and set a date to resume registration, which the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare paused because funds depleted. The coalition argues that eligible vulnerable Namibians who have not registered should be able to access the N$600-per-month grant.
9 October 2026 · The Namibian →
First Gentleman Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah called for coordinated national efforts to address social, educational and psychological challenges facing boys and men in Namibia, saying fragmented programmes have limited impact on gender equality and wellbeing.
8 October 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has paused registration of new beneficiaries for the Conditional Basic Income Grant due to depleted funding, with resumption dependent on future budgetary resources. The monthly cash grant, paid to vulnerable Namibians aged 18–59, currently provides N$600 per month to eligible households.
5 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Tutungeni informal settlement in Rosh Pinah, a 1,000-household mining town, faces concerns over more than 50 shebeens where children are paid to clean and allegedly use substances including glue, drugs, and alcohol. Discussions about intervention involving the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare have begun, though progress is unclear.
29 September 2026 · The Namibian →
More than 5,700 elderly pension beneficiaries remain without payments after the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare's 31 July verification deadline, while 10,066 of 15,785 suspended pensioners have been reinstated. An IPC parliamentarian and social justice activist are calling for clarity on next steps and assistance for those unable to reach ministry offices due to transport difficulties or other challenges.
11 September 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has reinstated 10,066 of 15,785 social grant beneficiaries onto the government payment system following a verification exercise that temporarily removed thousands from the payroll. The beneficiaries were affected when their details could not be matched with the National Population Registry System.
10 September 2026 · New Era →
Namibia recorded 6,304 gender-based violence cases during the 2025/26 financial year, with Ohangwena accounting for 654 cases—the highest of any region—according to statistics released by Acting Namibia Police Inspector General Major General Anne-Marie Nainda. The country has recorded over 6,000 GBV cases annually for the past three financial years.
8 September 2026 · New Era →
The Kavango West education directorate has recorded four child marriage cases over the past two years, including a 2024 attempt by a mother to remove a girl from school to marry an older man. Education director Pontianus Musore said schools are regularly sensitised on child marriage and encouraged to report cases to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, though some cases go unreported due to cultural practices and poverty.
18 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Fall n Opstaan kindergarten in Gobabis's Turiandjera township, founded in 2016 under a tree, now enrolls 143 children from kindergarten to preschool at no cost. Owner Johanna Nakale and three volunteer teachers provide free education and a safe environment for children from impoverished families.
16 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare is strengthening its juvenile justice services through screening and diversion of children in conflict with the law, along with pre-sentence impact mitigation reports, as part of broader child protection and well-being programmes.
14 August 2026 · New Era →
Young unemployed mothers in Kanaan B settlement at Gobabis drink tombo, a homemade brew, throughout the day to relieve hunger pangs in an informal settlement lacking running water, electricity, toilets, and food. Authorities identify alcohol as a major challenge linked to child neglect, crime, domestic violence, and poor productivity in the area.
12 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The number of Namibian children receiving support for living and working on the street fell by more than 40% from 857 in 2014 to 485 in 2023, according to the government's Child Care and Protection Statistics Report (2014-2023). The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare attributes the decline to improved reintegration into families, schools and communities.
10 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Deputy sport minister Dino Ballotti commended Namibia's 23-member team for their performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where the country finished 29th overall and second in southern Africa. Ballotti said the medal haul could have been greater with more athletes competing and pledged preparations for future international events including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
7 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Omaheke's three social workers serve all seven constituencies, leaving vulnerable children and survivors of gender-based violence with limited access to social welfare services. The region faces challenges including limited funding, staff burnout, vacant positions, and no emergency shelters or designated places of safety.
3 August 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia's Cabinet approved several Memoranda of Understanding with South Africa covering social development, gender equality, and women's empowerment, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation between the two nations.
30 July 2026 · Informanté →
Government spending on child grants exceeded N$1 billion as the number of children receiving State grants increased to 377 164 in 2023, up from 164 434 in 2014, according to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare's 2014–2023 Child Care and Protection Statistics Report. The vulnerable grant saw the largest growth, rising from 8 238 to 254 771 beneficiaries over the period, though maintenance grants and foster care grants declined.
27 July 2026 · New Era →
A government report shows girls in Namibia recorded an annual average of 1,252 reported violence cases over 2014–2023, compared to 711 for boys, with the highest number of cases (1,698) reported in 2023. The data covers violence including kidnapping, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and trafficking.
23 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Independent Patriots for Change shadow minister of gender equality has called on the gender ministry to ensure vulnerable social grant beneficiaries do not lose their income during verification, after the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare set a July end-of-month deadline for verification or risk losing payments. Lutuhezi said suspension of grant payments before verification is completed will cause unnecessary hardship and asked what measures would protect beneficiaries unable to meet the deadline due to illness, disability, old age or lack of transport.
21 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Jonah Home in Walvis Bay has cared for abandoned and vulnerable children for 15 years, currently housing about 14 children with capacity for up to 20. The facility accepts children from difficult circumstances including neglect, abuse, and families affected by substance addiction.
18 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare identified 373 children living and working on the streets in 2023 and plans to conduct a regional study this year to determine actual numbers and social and economic factors driving children to street life. The Khomas region recorded the highest number of street-connected children.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has suspended grant payments to beneficiaries with discrepancies between their personal details and the National Population Register, and is urging those affected to visit a pension office by July 31, 2026 to verify their identity documents. The ministry began paying verified beneficiaries in July and will continue processing backdated payments until September 2026.
15 July 2026 · Informanté →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare says over 15,825 old-age grant beneficiaries whose payments were suspended due to mismatched personal details must visit pension offices for verification by the end of July. Reviewed beneficiaries have resumed payments, with additional payments continuing through September.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Riaan Andrew van Wyk (46) was sentenced to life imprisonment by High Court Judge Dinnah Usiku for murdering his biological brother Frederik van Wyk (51) by stabbing him in the chest with a knife on 13 November 2021 in Rehoboth. Van Wyk was also convicted of attempted murder of another brother, Stephanus van Wyk, under the Combating of Domestic Violence Act.
14 July 2026 · New Era →
The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare has removed 280 children from the streets and reintegrated them into schools as part of efforts to tackle homelessness and street children.
13 July 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Omuthiya constituency regional councillor Erastus Nekomba has warned against the neglect and exploitation of elderly people after household visits uncovered pensioners living in dire conditions, including an 80-year-old woman whose family members are alleged to be misusing her pension grant.
9 July 2026 · The Namibian →
An unemployed Rehoboth community activist built El-Roi kindergarten in 2016 to shelter, feed and educate neglected and abandoned children. The facility currently houses three children and is run by the activist and his family with contributions from parents, some of whom cannot afford the monthly N$150 or N$200 fee.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Most pensioners in Hardap region whose grants were frozen during a verification exercise can expect their funds in the July payment cycle, with eligible beneficiaries receiving full back-pay once final approval is granted. The freeze affected more than 400 beneficiaries in the region due to data mismatches between the ministry's records and the National Population Register.
25 June 2026 · The Namibian →