Issues arise for the R370 October SASSA SRD grant

It looks like challenges are looming for the R370 October SASSA SRD grant. As The South African reported last week, only one-third of Social Relief of Distress (SRD) applications were successful last month. Of the 17-million applications made to the South African Social Security Agency SRD portal, just 7 million were approved. But why?

R370 OCTOBER SASSA SRD GRANT

The R370 October SASSA SRD grant is in place to assist the country’s neediest residents who have little to no financial income. Prior to the May 2024 election, the ANC vowed it would turn SRD into a Basic Income Grant by 2026, to help combat the nation’s growing unemployment rate.

However, while the Department of Social Development does have one of the biggest annual budgets, the demand for government grants would break the bank. If every single application for a R370 October SASSA SRD grant was approved and paid, the total monthly expenditure would be more than R6 billion to the taxpayer. This is an unfeasible situation when grant beneficiaries outnumber taxpayers by more than two to one.

HIGH COURT VISIT THIS MONTH

Nevertheless, GroundUp reports that a challenge to the rules for the R370 October SASSA SRD grant will be heard in the Pretoria High Court on Tuesday 29 October 2024. #PayTheGrants and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) filed the application last year. These social justice entities argue many eligible people are being denied access to the grant. Currently, only residents earning less than R625 are eligible for the grant.

Every month, applicants must contact SASSA SRD through their website. And they must check their SRD status is approved. The High Court action also hopes to narrow the government’s definition of ‘income’. Currently, it includes any form of financial support from family and friends. However, they want the court to rule that ‘income’ only be constituted as money earned from employment. Likewise, the groups hope to persuade the court that the eligibility threshold be raised to match growing inflation.

ONLINE APPLICATIONS ONLY

Likewise, R370 October SASSA SRD grant applications can only be made online. And while this is hugely convenient for most, the IEJ argues it’s unconstitutional because some applicants (mostly in the rural areas) don’t have access to internet or smartphones. Therefore, in-person applications should be allowed, too.

However, the Department of Social Development (DSD) defended its position on online applications. It says the process is easy, and the SRD website guides applicants with questions through the entire process, which takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish. Likewise, there is a WhatsApp feature which guides residents through the process, too. And 17 million in-person applicants would simply drown SASSA offices.