With 2025 SASSA grant misinformation hitting the media, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has addressed public concerns. While, for the most part, the outlook for next year’s SASSA grants is actually positive, with social welfare budgets increasing, the minster has vehemently denied claims that grants are going to be discontinued.
2024 SASSA GRANT MISINFORMATION
The genesis that South African Social Security Agency grants might not be extended beyond the current financial year, ending in March 2025, follows Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s sobering Medium-Term Budget Statement (MTBS) last month, reports The Citizen.
But before we look at those concerns, let’s remind you that the last remaining 2024 SASSA festive-season grants look like so:
- Tuesday 3 December 2024 – SASSA Older Persons Grants: R2 190 (over 60) and R2 210 (over 75).
- Wednesday 4 December 2024 – SASSA Disability Grants: R2 190.
- Thursday 5 December 2024 – SASSA Childcare Grants: R2 190 Child Dependency / Foster Care R1 180 / Child Support R530.
BUDGET INCREASE
Ntshavheni wants to find the source of the 2025 SASSA grant misinformation because, all things considered, the outlook is on an upward trajectory for South African residents in need of SASSA grants in 2025. Because, in Godongwana’s statement he allocated R36 billion for SRD grants, adding an additional R2.7 billion to support the grant’s funding. This is the very opposite of suggesting that the R370 SRD grant will be canned.
“There is misinformation spreading that we are ceasing SRD grants. This is not true. The Minister of Finance was very clear about the provision of extra money for social relief distress grant,” said Ntshavheni. The National Treasury, Department of Social Development and an inter-ministerial committee are also collaborating to determine whether implementing a basic income grant is a better approach,” the minister explained.
SUSTAINABILITY IN QUESTION
“We accept that the SRD grant remains an essential intervention in the country. But it might not be sustainable if the people are saying it’s not enough. Until we find a replacement solution, the Minister of Finance will have to continue. So, we should not confuse work that is being done to find more sustainable intervention with the continuation of the SRD grant. I think that’s what we need to clarify in case there is confusion,” concluded the minister.
SHOULD R370 SASSA SRD BE SCRAPPED OR REPLACED?
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