The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant – popularly known as the R350 grant – is expected to increase to R370 from April 1.

This was announced by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Godongwana said the social development minister will publish a comprehensive social security programme for comments, that ‘will define a better platform and a future for the social security net in South Africa’.

He said that ‘in between’, subject to the finalisation of the programme, the R350 grant will be increased to R370 by the end of the month.

In the Budget Speech delivered in February, Godongwana announced that social grants across the board are set to increase during the year.

The increases include:

• R100 to the old age, war veterans, disability and care dependency grants
• R50 to the foster care grant
• R20 to the child support grant.

“We are sensitive to the increase in the cost of living for the nearly 19 million South Africans who rely on these grants to make ends meet. In this regard, we have done as much as the fiscal envelope allows,” Godongwana said at the time. – SAnews.gov.za