Budget Speech 2025

Social Security
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Honourable Members, social grants are allocated R284.7 billion in 2025/26. This allows us to increase:

 

•The old age and disability grants by R130 to R2 315 in April.

 

•The Child Support Grant by R30 to R560 per month.

 

•The foster care grant by R70.

 

The COVID19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD), in its current form, will be extended by a year to end March 2026. R35.2 billion is allocated for this purpose.

 

As announced by the President in the State of the Nation Address, the SRD will be used as a basis for the introduction of a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people.

 

The future form and nature of the SRD will be informed by the outcome of the review of active labour market programmes.

 

This is expected to be completed by September 2025.

 

Madam Speaker, nearly 28 million beneficiaries will access social grants.

 

The truth is that ours is one of the most comprehensive social safety nets among emerging economies. This reflects our commitment to addressing poverty and inequality, while keeping our spending sustainable.