SASSA grants increase april

[FiLE] The Government Gazette details how several social grants will rise in value this month, and again in October 2022 – Image: SASSA / Supplied

SASSA latest: Ramaphosa reveals plans to ‘extend the R350 grant’

More money, and a longer shelf-life: Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed concerns about the R350 grant, and says he wants to ‘extend’ the payments.

SASSA grants increase april

[FiLE] The Government Gazette details how several social grants will rise in value this month, and again in October 2022 – Image: SASSA / Supplied

President Ramaphosa has outlined his ambitions to extend and expand the R350 grant from its current form. The financial lifeline is thought to be supporting roughly 10 million South Africans – but Cyril wants to take things further.

How will the R350 grant be extended?

While delivering his closing remarks on the ANC’s recent lekgotla, the head of state cast a watchful eye over the situation with SASSA and the volume of applicants. Record numbers of beneficiaries have been brought into the welfare system by the R350 grant, and pulling it away on its March 2022 expiry date could have devastating consequences.

That’s why Ramaphosa is keen to ensure that the poorest South Africans, who are all but excluded from the employment market, have more support structures to lean on in the future. The president spoke about the possible introduction of a Basic Income Grant too, which would give every eligible SA citizen a sum of money to buy essentials and necessities.

Ramaphosa talks up social security

It now looks like Ramaphosa will do everything in his power to make the R350 grant a more permanent fixture, as the ANC continues to work out how exactly it can fund a comprehensive Basic Income Grant programme.

“There continues to be significant demand on the government to expand income support measures for those living in poverty. All South Africans should be able to live with dignity, and subject to long-term affordability, serious considerations should be given to more measures that will help support the unemployed.”

“Those who are structurally marginalised could possibly see an extension of the R350 grant, targeted food poverty line support, or even the introduction of a Basic Income Grant. We need a combination of all this, with more employment.”