Public comments are invited on proposed amendments to the 2022 Regulations, relating to the Covid-19 SRD grant. According to civil society groups, this provides an opportunity for the grant to be extended, increased, and made available to more people.
Civil Society Pushing For R350 Grant Increase
Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants should be increased, according to civil society groups. Beneficiaries receive a R350 grant that is worth less than it was when the relief measure was introduced in 2020.
SRD grants should be increased to at least R413 according to the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI). By 2020, beneficiaries will receive grant payments that are in line with inflation. Consequently, a plan must be developed to gradually increase the grant value until it reaches the Food Poverty Line (FPL) of R624.
After members of the public were invited to comment on proposed amendments to the 2022 Regulations regarding the Covid-19 SRD grant, the recommendation to increase the grant’s value was made.
IEJ and SERI welcome the opportunity to raise these critical issues pertaining to the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, which is governed by the Social Assistance Act.In their submission, they seek to ensure millions of poor people living in South Africa receive the grant and are not wrongfully excluded.
SRD grant recipients are subjected to several verification checks to ensure their eligibility. A SRD grant application must be verified for identity, bank verification, and relief from the government.
The IEJ and SERI say that the regulations should specify in which order verification checks will be performed, as well as which information takes precedence. According to them, due to the problems previously encountered with bank verification checks, applicants’ personal information should be given preference.
SRD grants are based on the amount of money in a person’s bank account. A bank verification check ensures that the grant application does not exceed the R624 income threshold for the SRD grant.
According to their explanation, bank verification practices consider any money deposited in an applicant’s bank account as income. Some grant applicants receive money into their accounts on behalf of relatives who may not have bank accounts themselves or because they make payments on their behalf.
Additionally, they are calling for an increase in the income threshold to R1417, the Upper Bound Poverty Line. Support will be provided to everyone living below the poverty line.
Additionally, we are concerned that the current verification process relies on outdated or incorrect databasesIn March 2024, the SRD grant will end. It is a temporary relief measure from the government.
IEJ and SERI argue that the Constitution requires the government to provide social assistance to the needy in a progressive manner. According to them, cutting funding for and removing the SRD grant would be a retrogression of constitutional rights.