The Department of Social Development (DSD) has days to publish regulations regarding the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. These regulations must be published to allow for SRD grant payments to be made in the final week of April 2025.
Sassa briefed the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) Select Committee of Social Services on grant payments last month. The agency is awaiting the publishing of new SRD grant regulations by the DSD before 18 April 2025 to enable payment of SRD grants in April.
The agency confirmed its systems are ready to process payments when “the regulatory framework exists.”
SRD Grant Regulatory Framework Changes
In March, Acting Minister of Social Development Pemmy Majodina proposed several amendments to Section 13 of the Social Assistance Act. The amendments could significantly impact the payment of SRD grants for millions of unemployed adults living in South Africa.
The amendments would allow for SRD grant payments to continue for the next 12 months, the removal of the financial income threshold questions for the SRD grant, and the use of past assessment data to continue processing applications until May 2025.
The extension of the SRD grant’s implementation was announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana during his delayed budget speech. Amendments to Section 13 of the Social Assistance Act will update Regulation 5 to ensure payments can be made for the next 12 months.
Income Threshold And Court Case
The amendments proposed by the Deputy Minister could see the removal of questions related to income threshold. Majodina proposed the deletion of Regulation 2, sub-regulation (3)(b) which set an income threshold for the SRD grant. Under the current regulations, individuals must have an income of less than R624 per month to qualify for the grant.
In January, Judge Leonard Twala declared the regulations governing the eligibility criteria as well as verification checks for the SRD grant as unconstitutional in the Gauteng High Court.
Following this, respondents who included Sassa, the DSD and National Treasury applied for leave of appeal, which they were subsequently granted.
Judge Twala said while he was satisfied that all the issues and arguments were considered, the “complexity and seriousness of this case” deserves the attention of the Supreme Court of Appeal.
I am of the view that the interests of justice will be better served if this case is heard by a Superior Court and in this instance, the Supreme Court of Appeal,
Sassa said if the original judgment stands, it could complicate the administration of the grant, but the appeal process is ongoing.
Members of the public can comment on the proposed regulations until Monday, 14 April 2025.
