South Africa October Social Grant Increases: What Beneficiaries Can Expect

South Africa October Social Grant Increases: What Beneficiaries Can Expect. mSocial grants receive biannual adjustments in April and October. Discover the upcoming changes in beneficiaries’ allocations for October.

Finance Minister Announcement

In his February Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana disclosed the forthcoming increases in social grants. These increments initially took effect on April 1, 2023, and are set for another round on October 1, 2023. But how significant are these increases?

Social Grant Increases for October

As previously reported, Minister Godongwana allocated a substantial sum of R66 billion to the Department of Social Development over the medium term. This allocation divides into R30 billion earmarked for “inflation-linked” increments in social grants and R36 billion designated for the extension of the R350 grant, extended until March 31, 2024.

Starting from April 1, old age and disability grants increased by R90, with an additional R10 raise scheduled for October 1. The cumulative result is a total of R2090.

The child support grant saw a R20 boost on April 1 and is poised for an additional R10 increase in October, reaching R510. Meanwhile, the foster care grant is set to climb by R60 to R1130.

Military veterans received a grant of R2100 from April 1, which will undergo a further R10 increment in October.

ANC Call for Grant Increases

In the midst of these adjustments, the African National Congress (ANC) Youth League President, Collen Malatji, has called upon the government to introduce a monthly grant of R4500 for unemployed graduates. Additionally, Malatji advocates for raising the R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to R1500.

“We call upon the ANC-led government to introduce an unemployment grant. We’re saying while young people are still looking for opportunities, there must be a grant provided for them to be able to move around and seek those opportunities. We are saying while we’re still seeking solutions, the R350 SRD grant should be increased to R1500,” he emphasized.