R350 SRD Grant: Ramaphosa hints extension of SASSA grant

President Cyril Ramaphosa has hinted that the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant could be extended.

Ramaphosa said this as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana is set to deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement at the Cape Town City Hall on Wednesday, 1 November 2023.

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RAMAPHOSA HINTS AT EXTENSION OF THE R350 SRD

During his speech on Monday, Ramaphosa assured South Africans that spending on health, education, policing, and other essential services will be protected as far as possible.

“As we move to target spending on programmes that are working for the poor, we need to acknowledge that our social grants, including the SRD Grant, as well as our public employment programmes, are vital in supporting those who are vulnerable. 

“These programmes have not only reduced poverty, but have enabled recipients to search for jobs and to engage in other economic activity to support their livelihoods,” he said.

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‘GOVERNMENT WORKING ON BIG’

The SRD grant, which was originally introduced in May 2020 to help poor households at the height of the pandemic, has been extended before. Earlier in 2022, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the grant would come to an end in March 2023 and it was extended to March 2024.

When he delivered his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in 2022 Godongwana said discussions about the R350 SRD grant’s replacement are still underway.

Godongwana said the future of the grant and its replacement would require “very difficult” trade-offs and financing decisions.

“Despite the provision made in this budget, I want to reiterate that any permanent extension or replacement will require permanent increases in revenue, reductions in spending elsewhere, or a combination of the two,” he said.

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In February this year, President Cyril Ramaphosa also reiterated that work is underway to develop a mechanism for targeted basic income support for the most vulnerable aside from the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.

“Work is underway to develop a mechanism for targeted basic income support for the most vulnerable within our fiscal constraints.
This will build on the innovation we have introduced through the R350 SRD Grant, including linking the data that we have across the government to make sure we reach all those who are in need,” he said.