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| The Social Relief of Distress grant has been extended for a year. Archive photo of social grants queue: Mary-Anne Gontsana |
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has announced that the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant will increase by R20 in April 2024. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa's confirmation that the grant, originally a Covid relief plan, will continue for another year. The increase is part of the progressive realisation of the basic rights of South Africans and will be divided into three categories: old age, war veterans, disability and care dependency grants, foster care grants, and child support grants.
Gondongwana stated that the SRD grant will continue and the R350 will be improved. He also mentioned that the minister of social development will publish a comprehensive social security program that will define a better platform and future for the social security net in South Africa. The increase is expected to be completed by April 1st this year, subject to the finalization of the comprehensive social security programme.
Advocacy group #PayTheGrants has expressed concern about the SRD grant increase, stating that it is insulting to beneficiaries who have not been increased since its implementation. They believe that the increase will not make an impact on beneficiaries, as most are already receiving less than R350 every month due to bank charges and monthly bank fees. #PayTheGrants has been pushing for the implementation of a basic universal income grant (BIG), which has been endorsed by major trade unions, faith organizations, and more than 250 other organizations.
Civil society has been calling for the SRD grant to be increased to meet the poverty line. Following the Budget, the Institute for Economic Justice suggested that the SRD grant should be increased to the Food Poverty Line (FPL) of R663, the means test raised to the Upper Bound Poverty Line, and the exclusionary provisions denying millions access to the grant revoked. An inflationary increase for the period 2020-2023 should be introduced, and a commitment to improve the grant to the FPL during the year via a supplementary budget if necessary.
