IEJ calls for increase in social grants

Social grant beneficiaries

The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) is calling on government to increase social grants.

The IEJ has cautioned that the current grant amounts are far below the national poverty line, leaving millions unable to afford their most basic needs, including food.

According to Statistics South Africa, the minimum required to afford basic daily nutrition currently stands at R796 per person per month.

The institute’s call comes as the cost of living escalates and inadequate grant values erode the right to social assistance that the constitution guarantees.

Basic Income Researcher at the IEJ, Siyanda Baduza says: “When you look at the two biggest social grants in the country, the Social Relief of Distress Grant, that currently sits at R370. It is at a point where R370 is actually worth less in real terms than it was in 2020, back when it was only R350. Similarly, the Child Support Grant at R560 also sits far below the food poverty line because we also had estimates which calculates the basic cost for a nutritious basket to feed one child and that’s around R968. So, at R560, it’s also nowhere near adequate in order to be able to meet people’s most basic needs.”