SASSA’s Monthly Surge: Understanding the 80,000 New SRD Grant Applications

The grant, which was brought in during the Covid lockdown, was meant to be a temporary measure for millions of individuals. The extension of the SRD grant currently will lapse on 31 March 2026.

In January, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria declared that rules restricting access to the SRD grant were unconstitutional and invalid. The court also directed the government to raise the amount of the grant and the income level to qualify.

Addressing the social development portfolio committee last Wednesday, department representative advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa informed MPs that the government had lodged an appeal against the ruling they perceive to be “flawed”.

The department and SASSA lodged the application for leave to appeal on 13 February. The National Treasury has also filed papers in court for the hearing of the appeal, Mtshotshisa informed the committee.

If the leave to appeal is granted, this will put the decision against the regulations on hold until the appeal is heard. We are now waiting for the court’s decision, which will determine the way forward.