SUBMISSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO COVID-19 SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS ISSUED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACT (Regulation Gazette No. 48056, 14 February 2023)

The submission by IEJ and SERI criticizes the South African government's limited amendments to the SRD grant regulations, which only extended the expiry date to March 2024. The authors argue that the R350 grant value is arbitrary and eroded by inflation, and that the means-test threshold of R624 is too low. They highlight systemic exclusions caused by flawed bank and database verification, digital barriers in online-only applications, and a restrictive appeals process. The document recommends transitioning the SRD grant into a permanent Universal Basic Income (UBI) indexed to the upper-bound poverty line (UBPL) of R1417, removing the budget cap, and eliminating work conditionality clauses to ensure the right to social assistance is progressively realized.

• The current grant value of R350 is considered arbitrary and has been substantially eroded by inflation; the authors argue it should be raised to at least R413 to account for inflation since 2020 and eventually reach the food poverty line (FPL).
• The means-test threshold of R624 per month is deemed inadequate as it no longer reflects the FPL (adjusted to R663); the authors recommend raising it to the upper-bound poverty line (UBPL) of R1417 to cover all people living in poverty.
• The verification process, particularly bank verification and the use of government databases (UIF and SARS), leads to high levels of false exclusion, potentially affecting up to one third of applicants.
• The 'online-only' application system creates significant barriers for those with digital illiteracy or lack of internet access, and the removal of the South African Post Office (SAPO) as a payment point has further reduced accessibility.
• The budget cap (sub-regulation 11), which allows the government to limit disbursements when funds are depleted, is viewed as inconsistent with the Constitution and a driver of artificial eligibility constraints.
• The authors oppose the work conditionality clause 2.(f), which makes applicants ineligible if they 'unreasonably refuse' work or education, arguing it is coercive and nearly impossible to enforce.
• The appeals process is criticized for prohibiting the submission of new or additional evidence, which discriminates against those rejected due to inaccurate database information.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2023). SUBMISSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO COVID-19 SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS ISSUED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACT (Regulation Gazette No. 48056, 14 February 2023). https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iej-seri_submission-srd-grant-regulations_7-march-2023.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. SUBMISSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO COVID-19 SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS ISSUED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACT (Regulation Gazette No. 48056, 14 February 2023). 2023. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iej-seri_submission-srd-grant-regulations_7-march-2023.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=SUBMISSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO COVID-19 SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS ISSUED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACT (Regulation Gazette No. 48056, 14 February 2023) |date=7 March 2023 |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iej-seri_submission-srd-grant-regulations_7-march-2023.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{instituteforeconomicjustice2023submission, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{SUBMISSION ON AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS RELATING TO COVID-19 SOCIAL RELIEF OF DISTRESS ISSUED IN TERMS OF THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE ACT (Regulation Gazette No. 48056, 14 February 2023)}}, publisher = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/iej-seri_submission-srd-grant-regulations_7-march-2023.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }