South Africa’s Social Relief of Distress Grant Sees Record-Breaking 17 Million Applications

In a stark reflection of the country’s economic struggles, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has revealed that a staggering 17 million people applied for the R370-a-month Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant in September 2024. This marks a significant increase of over three million applicants since September 2021, when 13.8 million people applied for the grant.

The majority of applicants, approximately 9.2 million, have never been employed, with 4.8 million having worked for one year or less and 384,000 currently holding jobs. To qualify for the grant, applicants must have no other source of income. The largest group of applicants, 7.5 million, have finished matric, while over 945,000 have a tertiary qualification.

The province of KwaZulu-Natal saw the highest number of applicants, with 4.4 million applications, followed by Gauteng with 3.2 million and Limpopo with 2.3 million. Women made up approximately 9.3 million of the applicants, while men accounted for 7.9 million.

Notably, about 1.2 million applicants have no formal schooling, but most (93%) have some education. This highlights the significant challenges faced by many South Africans in accessing quality education and securing stable employment.

SASSA has paid out 7.5 million SRD grant beneficiaries in August, demonstrating the agency’s commitment to providing vital support to those in need. As the country continues to grapple with economic uncertainty, the SRD grant remains a crucial lifeline for many South Africans.