On 23 January 2025, The Pretoria High Court handed down judgment in the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant court case enabling millions of people who have been excluded from the SRD grant to access it. In this matter, SERI represents the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants (#PTG) in an application against the Minister for Social Development, and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) who challenged regulations that unlawfully and unconstitutionally exclude up to 50% of applicants from receiving the SRD grant. The applicants, contended that the state’s exclusionary procedures in administering the grant, together with the low grant value and low‑income threshold for eligibility, are unlawful, irrational, and in conflict with section 27(c) of the Constitution which guarantees the right to social assistance. The Minister for Social Development, SASSA and the Minister of Finance are now appealing this order, judgment in the matter will be handed down in due course.
