The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has urged government and the National Treasury to safeguard social grants, including the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, from inflationary erosion.

The call comes ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament on Wednesday.

COSATU spokesperson Matthew Parks described it as “beyond shameful” that the SRD Grant, which has existed for five years, has only been adjusted for inflation once.

Parks says the Presidential Employment Stimulus has made a positive impact by paying the minimum wage and providing thousands of young people with practical skills and experience needed to find permanent jobs.

He added that these initiatives should be expanded to accommodate at least two million people annually.

“Government needs to exploit the MTBPS and the pending 2026 Budget to give hope to struggling workers and a weary society, and to lift the economy to the 3% growth needed to put South Africa firmly on the path to inclusive growth and renewal.”

Oliver Meth, Head of Communications at Black Sash, emphasised the vital role social grants play in the lives of millions.

“For many, these grants are not a luxury; they are a lifeline. Any threat to reduce or withdraw them would deepen poverty and inequality at a time when households are already struggling with rising food prices, unemployment, and the high cost of living.”

Meth called on government not only to safeguard the SRD Grant but to expand and improve it, increasing its value to at least the food poverty line and establishing it as a permanent Basic Income Support measure.