Fighting hunger and poverty
South Africa has invested significantly in a social wage package to reduce inequality and address the worst effects of poverty. This includes free basic services, education and social housing for the poor, as well as an extensive social security grants system.
Government is working to ensure that existing social grants are increased to cushion the poor against rising inflation. We have extended the Social Relief of Distress Grant to end March 2024. We are also developing a longer-term alternative for targeted basic income support to replace the SRD Grant.
It is the job of the state to provide a minimum level of protection below which no South African will fall.
President Cyril Ramaphosa
Achievement highlights
R232 billion in social grants
Social relief of distress (SRD) grant reaches 8.5 million people
19 million people benefit from social grants
3.95 million
Old age pension grants
1 million
Disability grants
13.2 million
Child support grants
302 000
Foster child grant
162 000
Care dependency grants
352 000
Grants-in-aid
In the media
Minister Lindiwe Zulu: Social Development Dept Budget Vote 2023/24
Thank you for this opportunity to present the 2023/24 Budget Vote for the Department of Social Development under the theme “DSD@Work: Leaving No One Behind” as we consolidate the work and commitments that we have made in this 6th Administration – particularly, in terms of the investments we have made in people through our various interventions to ensure that we improve their quality of life – focusing primarily on protecting the poor and vulnerable from poverty and inequality.
www.gov.co.za
R232 Billion in social grants in 2022/23
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu told Parliament they are addressing poverty by providing 45% of South Africa’s population with grants. She was briefing the portfolio committee on social development on the audit outcomes of her department’s annual report.
www.dailyinvestor.com