Five amendments to the COVID-19 SRD grant

Social Development has taken a significant step towards addressing the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic by announcing amendments to the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

This move comes in the wake of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s decision to extend the grant, providing much-needed support to vulnerable communities.

FINANCE MINISTER ALLOCATES R34 BILLION

During the delivery of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana allocated R34 billion to extend the grant for another year.

“Government proposes that the fiscal framework make provision for funding for the grant for 2024/25. Beyond this, a comprehensive review of the entire social grant system by the Department of Social Development and the National Treasury is required,” Godongwana said.

Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, unveiled the Amendments to the COVID-19 SRD Regulations through Government Notice No. R. 4466 on 25 March 2024. These amendments extend the benefit until 31 March 2025, in accordance with Section 32(1) and (2), along with section 13 of the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act No.13 of 2004).

COVID-19 SRD GRANT: IMPACTFUL SUPPORT

The COVID-19 SRD grant, introduced during the global pandemic, has significantly impacted the lives of impoverished, unemployed, and vulnerable individuals. Many of whom faced job losses and economic hardships.

Since its inception in 2020, the grant has proven to be a vital tool in the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty and provide relief to those in need.

AMENDMENTS

The amendments to the COVID-19 SRD Regulations aim to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the grant, addressing key issues and concerns. These amendments include:

1. Increase in payment: A R20.00 increase in the grant amount, raising the total value to R370.00.
2. Extension of provision: Extending the COVID-19 SRD grant from 1 April 2024, to 31 March 2025, as announced by the Minister of Finance during last year’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS).
3. Introduction of Regulations 6A: Empowering the agency to recover irregular payments, suspend, and cancel approved but uncollected benefits within prescribed timeframes if the person fails to respond to the agency’s request for personal details.
4. Introduction of Regulations 6B: Providing for lapsing of the benefit on the last day of the month in which the beneficiary died.
5. Introduction of Regulations 6C: Ensuring uninterrupted assessments and payments during the transition between the Regulations published on 29 March 2023, and these amendments.

These amendments underscore the government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the pandemic.

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