By Thapelo Molefe
Acting Minister of Social Development Sindisiwe Chikunga has revealed that government will spend R36.4 billion on the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant this financial year, as pressure continues to grow for the introduction of a permanent basic income support system.
Tabling Budget Vote 19 in Parliament on Tuesday, Chikunga confirmed that the SRD grant had been extended until March 2027 and currently supports about eight million unemployed working-age South Africans.
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The SRD grant forms part of the Department of Social Development’s R302 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, with R293 billion allocated to direct social assistance payments.
Chikunga said the department had already made progress on plans for a future income support model.
“The department has also made considerable progress since the tabling of the Draft Basic Income Support Policy to
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