MTBPS: COVID-19 SRD grant extended to March 2027

In its umpteenth extension, the COVID-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant will be extended for another 14 months to March 2027.

In May, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced an extension of the SRD grant to the end of March 2026.

On Wednesday, he extended the grant once again, even though the 2025 budget documents don’t make provisions for the grant in the medium-term.

FULL SPEECH | 2025 Medium-term budget policy statement

Godongwana said the R370 grant would be extended while proposals were finalised to link the working-age population to skills development and employment programmes.

The finance minister made the commitment to supporting under-priveleged households during his medium-term budget policy statement in Parliament on Wednesday.

"Our commitment to support low-income and vulnerable households through education, health, and social protection remains. The lion’s share of consolidated non-interest spending, approximately 61% over the next three years, continues to fund the basket of government-provided services and benefits that reduce the cost of living for our citizens."

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