Social Development proposes extension of SRD grant
Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu on Monday confirmed her department’s proposal to extend the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant until the end of the 2025/26 financial year.
Zulu says the extension will allow the department to finalise the Basic Income Support policy for a more permanent and sustainable intervention.
She was responding to the secretary general of the GOOD party, Brett Herron, who asked whether the department would change the SRD grant into a basic income grant.
“The Department of Social Development intends to approach cabinet to seek approval to publish the draft BIS policy for public comments in the current financial year," said Zulu.
Last year, civil organisations proposed an extension and improvement of the R350 SRD grant, which was first introduced in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Civil society organisations want the SRD grant to evolve into a basic income grant to assist those living in extreme poverty.
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