THE R350 Social Relief Grant (SRD) will increase by R20 on 1 April.
But for people in Soweto, this is a slap in the face.
“This R20 increase will make no difference to the grant that we are getting. Firstly, you can’t meet half of your basic needs with this R350. What is more is a R20," said Benjamin Dube.
Benjamin (42) is unemployed and told Daily Sun that with the R350 he gets every month, he buys bathing soap, maize meal, and meat, and that’s about it.
“You literally can't rely on this R350. I mean, bread is already R20. That’s already that increase gone," he said.
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Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, in the National Assembly, upon increasing the SRD grant, said this was their way of ensuring that citizens of the country could stay afloat amid the increased cost of living in Mzansi.
"We're sensitive to the increase in the cost of living for the nearly 19 million South Africans who rely on these grants to make ends meet. In this regard, we've done as much as the fiscal envelope allows," he said.
But people like Bukha Majola don't see how this R20 increase will help them.
“They're playing with us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Norma Buthelezi, unlike other residents at the hostel, was grateful for the crease.
“R20 is better than nothing. It's something to us. I mean, who will just give you a R20 just like that? At least it will buy that bread,” she said.
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