SASSA SRD grant future pending Supreme Court of Appeal ruling, Digi Mart USA News (South Africa): The future of the SASSA SRD grant remains in doubt as millions of recipients await a ruling from the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA). According to The South African, government challenged the Gauteng High Court on 25 August 2026.
The SCA has reserved its judgment, and no clear timeline for the decision has been given. The report outlines several possible outcomes but notes that the ruling has not yet been handed down.
The last round of SASSA SRD grant payments took place in October, between the 22nd and 26th. Barring official confirmation, November payment dates are likely to fall in the final week of the month, between November 23 and 27.
The dispute began in January 2025, when the High Court found parts of the SASSA SRD grant regulations to be unconstitutional and invalid. These included the online-only application process and a definition of income that was considered too broad.
The case was brought against government by the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #PayTheGrants.
After losing the case, government and the South African Social Security Agency appealed. Their argument, as reported, is that the state cannot afford to do more and that courts should not prescribe budget decisions to the National Treasury.
Meanwhile, the R370 grant was confirmed in the 21 October Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to be extended for another year, until at least March 2028. Applicants are advised to continue applying through the official Social Relief of Distress online portal.
