SDG 1 – No poverty

• Target 1.1 – By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.
  • Indicator 1.1.1 – Proportion of the population living below the international poverty line by sex, age, employment status and geographical location (urban/rural)

• Target 1.2 – By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
  • Indicator 1.2.1 – Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age
  • Indicator 1.2.2 – Proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

SDG 2 – End hunger

• Target 2.1 – By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
  • Indicator 2.1.1 – Prevalence of undernourishment
  • Indicator 2.1.2 – Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

• Target 2.2 – By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age, and address the nutritional needs of adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women and older persons.
  • Indicator 2.2.1 – Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age
  • Indicator 2.2.2 – Prevalence of malnutrition (weight for height >+2 or <-2 standard deviation from the median of the WHO Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age, by type (wasting and overweight)
  • Indicator 2.2.3 – Prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status (percentage

SDG 13 – Climate Action

• Target 13.1 – Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
  • Indicator 13.1.3: Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

The Social Relief of Distress program provides temporary assistance to individuals and families facing dire material needs who are unable to meet their most basic necessities. This assistance may take the form of food parcels, food vouchers, or in some provinces, direct cash payments. The relief is typically provided for a maximum period of three months, with a potential extension for an additional three months in exceptional circumstances. The program serves South African citizens, permanent residents, and refugees who have been affected by disasters, and is currently administered by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), though with certain limitations.

For existing grant recipients, implementing top-up payments was relatively straightforward as these beneficiaries were already within the SASSA database. The agency simply needed to adjust its systems to increase payment amounts for the six-month period following the program’s announcement.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a Special Social Relief of Distress Grant was introduced as an ad hoc measure to mitigate the economic impact of the national lockdown. This temporary intervention targeted working-age individuals who lacked access to other forms of support, whether pandemic-specific or conventional social assistance programs. From May to October 2020, qualifying applicants received R350 per month. This special COVID-19 grant was implemented under the existing Social Relief of Distress framework, operating in accordance with the Social Assistance Act of 2004.

The COVID-19 SRD Grant required a more complex implementation approach compared to initial emergency food relief programs, as its beneficiaries were not already in the SASSA database or receiving other government grants. This necessitated the development of new systems, qualification criteria, and regulatory amendments.

Regarding the application process, individuals may apply for social relief of distress or social grants electronically, in addition to other available methods. For those without access to technology, trained volunteers equipped with necessary devices are available to assist with application submissions. Eligibility for the grant extends to South African citizens, permanent residents, and refugees registered in the Home Affairs system who reside within the country’s borders.

Applicants must be:

• Above the age 18; Unemployed;
• Not receiving any income;
• Not receiving any grant;
• Not receiving any unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive unemployment insurance benefits;
• Not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme;
• Not resident in a government funded or subsidised institution.

Prospective Applicants will need to provide the following compulsory information for processing their applications:

• Identity Number/Department Home permit;
• Name and Surname as captured in the ID (and initials);

• Severe labour market disruptions occurred due to COVID-19, with widespread wage cuts and retrenchments, deepening poverty. The informal sector was hit hardest during the Level 5 lockdown, worsening financial vulnerability for many households. Government intervention was crucial in mitigating immediate poverty, with the SRD grant being a key response. Poverty reduction impact: The SRD grant prevented 120,000 people from falling into poverty, demonstrating its effectiveness as a short-term relief measure.

• Gender disparity in applications: 63% of applicants were men, while 37% were women, suggesting different economic vulnerabilities or access barriers. Women in South Africa face higher unemployment (34.7% vs. 30.7% for men, QLFS 2023) and are more likely to live in poverty.Female-headed households experience higher deprivation rates (Stats SA, 2021).

• High demand vs. budget constraints: Applications surged to over 15 million in early 2022, but only 10.9 million were approved.Budget limitations forced stricter eligibility rules, including a R350/month means-test threshold, leading to exclusion of some needy applicants. Temporary grants can prevent poverty spikes, but long-term solutions are needed for sustained impact.

• Better targeting mechanisms may be required to balance fiscal constraints with inclusive support. Applications for the grant in February and March 2022 were well above 15 million, and 10.9 million were approved to receive the benefit. However, in the 2022/2023 Budget, the Treasury provided a budget allocation for 10.5 million recipients. As a result, DSD and SASSA had to develop regulations and restrictions which would tighten access to the grant. Most notably these included a means-test income threshold initially set at R350 a month.

-; Digital transformation of social protection information systems; Emergency cash transfers in fragile and humanitarian contexts; Conditional cash transfer (CCT); Unconditional cash transfer

• World Bank
• The Helen Suzman Foundation
• Institute for Economic Justice
• socialprotection.org

South Africa’s social assistance system operates through multi-level governance, involving both national departments and agencies as well as local community centers. While most social grants are established and regulated by the Social Assistance Act and its accompanying regulations, the Social Relief of Distress and Social Relief for Caregivers grants represent exceptions. These specific programs were created through Directions issued by the Minister of Social Development, authorized under Regulation 4(5) of the regulations made pursuant to Section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act.

The Department of Social Development (DSD) maintains oversight of the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), which administers these programs. Individuals seeking Social Relief of Distress may apply either at their nearest SASSA office or through the online portal at https://srd.sassa.gov.za. SASSA’s mandate focuses on delivering social security services to qualifying South Africans.

Complementing these efforts, Community Nutrition and Development Centres (CNDCs) operate nationwide to provide food relief. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these centers adapted their operations through innovative approaches like the “knock-and-drop” method for delivering cooked meals to seniors aged 60 and above, reducing health risks. CNDCs play a vital role in food storage and distribution to impoverished households, while also participating in community-driven Food and Nutrition Security Programmes. These initiatives specifically target vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, enhancing food access during times of particular need.

Between May 2020 and April 2021, the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant provided crucial support to more than six million vulnerable individuals, primarily targeting informal sector workers and unemployed prime-aged adults who were ineligible for other social grants or Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) benefits. Designed as a temporary income supplement during the pandemic, the initial phase of the program concluded in April 2021.

The SRD grant specifically assisted those who lost their livelihoods without access to alternative support systems. The program reached approximately 43% of individuals who experienced pandemic-related job losses, including many informal workers excluded from the Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS). Unlike more progressive grant top-ups that targeted lower-income groups, SRD benefits primarily supported those in the upper-middle income bracket who were disproportionately affected by the economic crisis.

During the lockdown period, traditional social relief mechanisms proved vital despite the logistical challenges of scaling up operations. SASSA data reveals a dramatic expansion of relief efforts, with beneficiary numbers more than doubling from 10,762 in March 2020 to 26,619 by April 2020, maintaining an average of nearly 23,000 monthly recipients through July 2020. The Auditor-General’s 2020 report further documented the distribution of 146,963 food parcels as part of these relief efforts.

In 2022/2023, the Treasury budgeted R44 million for 10.5 million people to receive the grant. Information on Social Relief of Distress grants approved was provided in the response to Parliamentary Question 2021 on 7 May 2021. Altogether 68.228.532 monthly grants were made over the 12-month period, representing an aggregate disbursement of R 23.9 billion.

South African Social Security Agency (SASSA)

https://www.statssa.gov.za/

https://www.gov.za/services/services-residents/social-benefits/social-relief-distress