The grant, introduced during the Covid lockdown, was intended to be a short-term solution for millions of people. The current extension of the SRD grant will end on 31 March 2026.
In January, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria ruled that regulations limiting access to the SRD grant were unconstitutional and invalid. The court also ordered the government to increase both the grant amount and the income threshold to qualify.
Speaking to the portfolio committee on social development last Wednesday, advocate Luyanda Mtshotshisa, representing the department, told MPs that the government had appealed against the judgment they believe to be “flawed”.
The department and SASSA applied for leave to appeal on 13 February. The National Treasury has also submitted documents to the court for the appeal hearing, Mtshotshisa told the committee.
“Should the leave to appeal be granted, this will suspend the ruling against the regulations until the appeal is heard. We are now awaiting the decision from the court, which will guide the next steps.”
