SRD grant to be basis of more sustainable income support for unemployed - Ramaphosa

CAPE TOWN - The fight for a basic income grant could be closer to realisation, with a commitment by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the social relief of distress grant will be the basis of more sustainable support to the unemployed.
 
The grant was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been extended several times in the national budget.

But government was dealt a blow from the courts in January when it ruled some of the criteria were exclusionary and that more people should have access getting the R370.
 
More than eight million people currently receive the payout.
 
While government has repeatedly said it can’t afford to introduce a basic income grant, Ramaphosa made this undertaking during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night.
 
"The social relief of distress grant is an essential mechanism for alleviating extreme poverty. We will use this grant as the basis for the introduction of a more sustainable form of income support for unemployed people."