The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein is set to hear the government’s appeal on Tuesday against a High Court ruling that ordered changes to the criteria for accessing the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
The legal battle centres on a January 2025 judgment in which the Pretoria High Court found that several aspects of the SRD grant system were unlawful. The court ruled that the regulations had effectively excluded millions of people who could qualify for the financial assistance.
The case was brought by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants, with the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (SERI) representing the applicants.
The government is challenging the High Court’s findings and is also disputing rulings concerning the adequacy of the R370 monthly grant and the R624 means-test threshold used to determine eligibility.
The applicants argue that both the value of the grant and the income threshold have failed to keep pace with the rising cost of living, leaving vulnerable South Africans without adequate support.
The SCA’s decision could have significant implications for the future eligibility requirements and administration of the SRD grant, which provides financial assistance to millions of unemployed South Africans.