Johnathan Paoli
THE Black Sash has urged the government to adjust social grants accordingly to ensure basic needs are met, in light of the recent amendments to the amounts of grants.
According to an announcement delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the National Assembly, the grant would now be increased from R350 to R370 beginning from April this year, with the increase following an assertion from President Cyril Ramaphosa during this year’s State of the Nation Address that the grants would be improved.
In his budget speech, the Minister indicated that the SRD grants will continue being disbursed until March next year, with the government allocating R33.6 billion this year in order to continue distributing the distress relief grants.
Furthermore, the foster care grant has been increased by R50 and the child support grant by R20.
Black Sash spokesperson Thandi Henkerman said the disparity between the grant amount and the cost of living sought to highlight a systemic issue.
“Beyond bread, individuals and families have numerous other essential expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, and healthcare, among others, which the current grant amount may not adequately cover,” Henkerman said.
Henkerman said the government’s reduced budget decreases the number of beneficiaries who qualify for grants and that increasing the grant by a small amount would not effectively alleviate the financial burdens faced by recipients, especially considering the rising cost of essential goods and services.
Following the government budget speech near the end of February this year, Minister Godongwana announced that several SASSA social grants would see increases, excluding the SRD grant introduced during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, in light of increasing calls for change and an appropriate increase to the grant, the government has instituted adjustments.
“I am pleased to say that we have found consensus that in between, subject to the finalisation of the comprehensive social security programmes, we will increase the R350 to R370 by 1 April this year. That is part of the progressive realisation of the basic rights of our people,” the minister said.
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