Finance minister Enoch Godongwana has set aside R34 billion for the extension of the social relief of distress grant (SRD) until March 2025, but stressed that there is nothing beyond that period.
Godongwana delivered his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, and he said the National Treasury has moved to allocate an additional R34 billion to aid the continuation of the programme for another year.
The much-contested grant was supposed to come to an end next year, but the extension pushes that back to March 2025.
Godongwana said the Treasury noted that the extension over the medium term represents a temporary solution in the wake of the government’s review of the entire social grant system.
Labour Unions have been calling for the introduction of a basic income grant to replace the temporary grant introduced in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic.
R34 billion is allocated to extend the Covid-19
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