People who have more than R624 in bank account don't qualify for SRD grant, court hears

JOHANNESBURG - Social grant beneficiaries who have about R624 in their bank accounts do not qualify for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant because they are seen as having other forms of financial assistance.

This is contained in papers before the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe is appealing the order of the court that declared as unconstitutional SASSA’s 2023 regulations governing the distribution of the Social Relief of Distress grant.

According to the regulations, the income threshold for insufficient means is R624.00, meaning people who have more than this amount in their accounts do not qualify for the SRD grant.  

Judge Mpostoli Twala of the Pretoria High Court lamented this, saying there was no merit in the contention that there was the full realisation in the SRD grant since its introduction in 2020.