A new means test and bank verification process has resulted in far fewer people getting the grant By Liezl Human The R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant should be increased to R413 in line with inflation, say the Institute for Economic Justice and the the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa. The organisations noted with concern that the only aspect...

Less money for public schools and health care, but tax breaks for corporates and individual taxpayers By Daniel McLaren, Zimbali Mncube, Cheryl-Lyn Selman and Lindi-K Khumalo As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his maiden budget speech on 23 February 2022, protesters gathered outside Parliament demanding jobs, basic income, quality public services and wealth taxes as part of an alternative budget. These demands largely fell on deaf ears, as Godongwana’s budget...

Following a meeting with organisations last week, the presidency acknowledged the impact the grant has had in reducing poverty and hunger By Masego Mafata Civil society organisations met the President and relevant Ministers to plead for the R350 Covid Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to be extended beyond the state of disaster. They want the president to set up a...