Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed a major overhaul of South Africa’s Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, announcing that it will be redesigned into a jobseekers’ grant aimed at supporting unemployed South Africans in finding work and sustaining livelihoods.
Speaking at the News24 ‘On the Record’ Summit at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Thursday, Ramaphosa said the redesign would strengthen the social protection system for those most in need.
“We must continue to strengthen our social protection system to reach all unemployed South Africans with a basic level of support,” the President said.
“By redesigning the Social Relief of Distress Grant, we will ensure that those receiving the grant have access to a wide range of support to search for work and to sustain a livelihood.”
Ramaphosa emphasised that the SRD grant would form part of a broader strategy to tackle South Africa’s unemployment crisis, which he described as “our single greatest challenge.”
“A job is more than just an income. It is about dignity, about confidence, about a sense of belonging and an ability to contribute to our community and our society,” he said.
ICYMI 🎥 ▶️ | President Cyril Ramaphosa. “Creating jobs is the foremost priority of this government.”
🔗 Speech: https://t.co/za9d2jE4Eq
#GovZAUpdates #News24 #OnTheRecord pic.twitter.com/wGGrmPOssj— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) March 19, 2026
“Many young South Africans face the prospect of leaving school without a foothold in the economy, unable to lift themselves and their families out of poverty. That is why we have placed jobs at the heart of our agenda – to give every young person in this country a chance at a better life.”
In the meantime, the existing R370 Social Relief of Distress grant will continue and has been extended through March 2027, following President Ramaphosa’s announcement in the State of the Nation Address.
The President also highlighted other government initiatives aimed at creating opportunities for unemployed South Africans, including the Presidential Employment Stimulus, which has generated more than 2.5 million public and social employment opportunities since 2020, and the Youth Employment Service (YES), which has provided work experience to more than 220,000 young people.
While the SRD grant is being redesigned, Ramaphosa confirmed that the current R370 grant will continue until March 2027, as previously announced in the State of the Nation Address.
The Department of Social Development is in ongoing consultations with the National Treasury to determine how to implement the new jobseekers’ grant effectively.
Ramaphosa stressed that reforms to the SRD grant are part of a broader economic and social strategy, which includes overhauling skills development, supporting small businesses, and creating opportunities in both formal and informal sectors.
“It is by creating jobs that we will open the doors of opportunity to all, and build a society that is more equal, more stable and more united,” he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
