Tell new Social Development Minister Nokuzola Tolashe to fix & increase the R370 grant

Tell new Social Development Minister Tolashe to fix & increase the R370 grant

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Social Development Minister Tolashe

On 30 June 2024, Minister Nokuzola Tolashe was officially sworn in as the Minister of Social Development and a member of the cabinet of the newly formed Government of National Unity (GNU) [1].

For years, we have worked together to put pressure on the Department of Social Development (DSD) to fix and increase the R370 SRD grant and expand it into a Basic Income Grant (BIG). Now that the DSD has a new minister, it is time for change.

Send Minister Tolashe a message to tell her to fix and increase the R370 SRD grant.

[1] Meet SA's new cabinet, South African Government News Agency, 30 June 2024.

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Dear Minister Tolashe,

We, the undersigned, welcome you as the new Social Development Minister. For years, we have been engaging the Ministry of Social Development about our campaigns demanding to fix issues with the R370 SRD grant, increase it and expand it into a basic income grant.

While your predecessor, Minister Lindiwe Zulu, acknowledged the issues and our campaign demands, little has changed to improve the administration of the R370 SRD grant.

Below are our campaign demands:

1. Fix all SRD grant problems

The R370 SRD grant regulations have unfairly excluded millions from the grant [1]. Moreover, some beneficiaries who have been approved for the grant are still not receiving their payments, while others are stuck in a ‘pending’ status.

More recently, Sassa introduced a new biometric verification process that has prevented many people from accessing the grant. For those without smartphones or internet access, it is difficult to verify their identities through a biometric process [2].

We call on you to address all issues related to the R350 grant, act swiftly to solve them, and ensure that all those who qualify for the grant receive it.

2. Increase the SRD grant to match the food poverty line

In his 2024 budget speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana increased the SRD from R350 to R370 [3]. The increase of R20 is nowhere near enough to cover the cost of living, which has skyrocketed since the SRD was introduced in 2020.

We call on you to increase the SRD grant to match the Food Poverty Line, which is currently R760.

3. Expand the R370 SRD Grant into a Basic Income Grant (BIG)

We call on you to commit to supporting the expansion and implementation of the SRD grant into a permanent Basic Income Grant for those aged 18 to 59 with little to no income, valued at the upper-bound poverty line of R1558. Over 320,000 people have signed the petition in support of the BIG.

The high cost of living has left millions unable to afford basic necessities. We call on you to commit to the above to help lift millions out of poverty.

[1] R350 grant: SASSA in court over “unfair” exclusions, Liezl Human for GroundUp, 5 September 2023.

[2] SASSA’s new ID verification process sparks alarm, Marecia Damons for GroundUp, 19 June 2024.

[3] The R20 increase in Social Relief of Distress grant is a ‘slap in the face’ – #PayTheGrants activist, Naledi Sikhakhane for Daily Maverick, 14 March 2024.

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