SRD grant set for another year beyond March 2027
Budget documents show the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant will continue past March 2027 while work goes on to design a revised grant. National Treasury warns that expanding the grant is one of the biggest risks to the fiscus.
About 13 million people now receive the grant. Treasury says the outcome of its appeal against a High Court ruling is a material expenditure risk. The ruling could add three million beneficiaries, and enforcing it would need R74 billion a year.
Treasury also warned that expanding the grant carries a price tag of nearly R100bn. It said beneficiaries will be linked to employment, training and business opportunities through MzansiXchange.
Treasury Director-General Duncan Pieterse said the application process is still open to fraud. He said applicants state lower incomes than banks verify.
The Department of Social Development is refining its earlier submission to Cabinet on a basic income grant. That grant would replace the SRD grant.
Key facts
- Who
- Duncan Pieterse (Treasury Director-General); Enoch Godongwana (Finance Minister); National Treasury (government department that flagged fiscal risk); Department of Social Development (department refining submission to Cabinet on a basic income grant)
- What
- Budget documents indicate the R370 SRD grant will be extended beyond March 2027 while work continues on a revised grant, even as Treasury flags expansion as a major fiscal risk. Treasury says the outcome of its appeal against a High Court ruling that could add three million beneficiaries is a material expenditure risk.
- When
- 22 October 2026
- Where
- South Africa
- Status
- Reported