Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Naledi Sikhakhane
Published on 2024-03-14 21:36:39
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant is set to increase from R350 to R370 starting in April 2024, as announced by Finance Minister Enoch Gondongwana during a session in the National Assembly on March 13, 2024. This adjustment comes after President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed in his State of the Nation Address in February that the grant, initially introduced as part of Covid relief efforts, will be extended for another year.
Gondongwana expressed his commitment to improving the SRD grant, stating that the Minister of Social Development will soon release a comprehensive social security program for public input. This program aims to establish a stronger foundation for the social security system in South Africa, ensuring a brighter future for those in need.
The Finance Minister disclosed that the R350 grant will be increased to R370 by April 1st, 2024, as part of ongoing efforts to fulfill the basic rights of the population. Additionally, he highlighted other social grant increases set for 2024, including:
– Old age, war veterans, disability, and care dependency grants rising by R100 to R2,185, with a R90 adjustment in April and a further R10 in October.
– Foster care grants increasing by R50 to R1,180.
– Child support grants going up by R20 to R530.
Acknowledging the rising cost of living, especially for the 19 million South Africans dependent on social grants, Gondongwana emphasized the government’s commitment within the limits of the fiscal budget.
While 19 million individuals receive permanent grants, an additional 8.5 million people rely on the monthly R350 SRD grant for essential support. However, advocacy group #PayTheGrants criticized the R20 increase, labeling it as insufficient given the grant’s unchanged value since its inception. The group had hoped for a higher increase to align the grant with the food basket price of R450.
#PayTheGrants has been advocating for the implementation of a basic universal income grant (BIG), supported by various organizations and unions. The organization expressed disappointment in the motivation behind the R20 increase, suggesting it was influenced more by National Treasury concerns than by the Department of Social Development or the South African Social Security Association (Sassa).
Civil society has echoed the call for the SRD grant to be raised to meet the poverty line standards. The Institute for Economic Justice emphasized the need to increase the grant to the Food Poverty Line (FPL) at R663 and to adjust means-testing requirements to ensure broader access to the grant.
In conclusion, the focus remains on balancing the social relief needs of the population with fiscal constraints, as efforts continue to improve the effectiveness of the social security net in South Africa.
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