Watch VideoBudget 2026 | Godongwana announces SASSA social grant increases

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced increases on Wednesday. Millions of South Africansare setto benefit from bigger social grants, afterFinance Minister Enoch Godongwanaannounced increases on Wednesday. to benefit from bigger social grants, afterFinance Minister Enoch Godongwanaannounced increases on Wednesday.

Delivering his budget speech in Cape Town, Godongwana said that the government will spend R2.67 trillion in 2026/27, with R292.8 billion allocated for social grants, which support more than 26 million South Africans. “This spending includes a proposed R5 billion in the contingency reserve to cater to disasters declared since the MTBPS. Government spending remains highly redistributive.

The social wage accounts for more than60 per cent of non-interest spending over the medium term,” Godongwana said. Godongwana added that basic education, health, and social protection make up 70.3% of the social wage in 2026/27. “Basic education, health and social protection constitute 70.3 per cent of the social wage in 2026/27, providing support to 13.6 million school children, healthcare services to 84 per cent of the population and social grants to 26.5 million beneficiaries”. Despite calls from civil society groups and labour organisations for the government to increase the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant beyond its current level of R370 a month, Godongwana said the grant will remain in its current form.