Basic Income Support Grant heads to Treasury for July 2026 decision

Where the proposal stands

The BIS has been presented as South Africa’s most ambitious social welfare policy and is being advanced under an acting minister. President Ramaphosa’s recent firing of Sisisi Tolashe was noted in coverage of the policy’s progress, and Sindisiwe Chikunga is now leading the work in an acting role, the report says.

What has been done so far

The BIS was first presented as a draft policy in November 2024 but was returned for further development, with a request for stronger links between income support and employment opportunities. The DSD says it has spent two years consulting with other government departments.

In May, the DSD and the Presidency held a workshop that included Home Affairs, Employment and Labour, Small Business Development, Basic Education, SASSA and StatsSA. The National Treasury supplied the department with a three-page document listing questions that need to be answered before Treasury can support the policy.

Timelines and next steps

If Treasury supports the BIS in July 2026, the DSD aims to submit the policy to Cabinet for final approval by March 2027. The department said it might seek an extension of the SRD grant beyond March 2027 to avoid interruptions while policy and legislative changes are completed.

Any amendments to the Social Assistance Act would still be required before implementation, meaning the BIS would not immediately replace the SRD even on a smooth timetable.

Program design and purpose

The proposed Basic Income Support Grant is intended to build on the SRD grant. The acting minister emphasised that the BIS is not a substitute for job creation. The department’s task is to establish a sustainable BIS for approximately 8.5 million unemployed working-age adults, the reporting says.

The SRD was first introduced in May 2020 as a six-month measure and has been extended annually, with the current extension ending in March 2027.

Reader engagement and publisher notes

According to The South African, readers can enter to win R2 000 by taking The South African’s SASSA survey. The South African says its site focuses on stories about South Africa and South Africans.

Investigation and implementation

Parliament’s Select Committee on Social Services was briefed this week on the policy’s progress. The DSD must answer Treasury’s questions before Treasury will indicate support, and further legislative steps remain necessary for implementation.