Budget 2026 | Godongwana announces SASSA social grant increases

Millions of South Africans are set to benefit from bigger social grants, after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced 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 than 60 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".

The minister announced social grant increases as follows:

• Old age, disability, and care dependency grants: rise by R80 to R2,400
• War veterans grant: rises by R80 to R2,420
• Foster care grant: increases to R1,290 in April and R1,300 in October
• Child support and grant-in-aid grants: increase by R20 to R580
• Social relief of distress: continues in its current form for 2026/27
• The government will strengthen measures to prevent fraud to ensure grants reach those in need

The social grants will increase in April 2026.

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.

"The social relief of distress continues in its current form over the year ahead", he said.

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