In April 2020, the South African government responded to the social impacts of the pandemic through packages and monthly grants for those with zero income and a caregivers grant for those already receiving the child support grant.
Many working age adults in South Africa who benefited from the government’s Social Relief of Distress package, introduced to alleviate the social impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, will be without income support once the extension of the grant ends on 31 March 2022.
The Commonwealth Foundation, Government of Canada and Black Sash are facilitating engagement between civil society and government to advocate for basic income support for 18-59 year olds with little or no income in South Africa.