The COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant – also known as the R350 grant – is expected to be extended to the end of March 2024. This as government continues to consider options for a replacement for the grant with no decision taken yet on how the replacement will be financed. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced the extension of the grant during his presentation of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement in Parliament on Wednesday afternoon. “The SRD grant was introduced in May 2020 as a temporary measure to respond to the needs of the most vulnerable, who were affected by [COVID-19 induced] lockdown measures. It has been extended several times since then. Discussions on the future of the grant are ongoing and involve very difficult trade-offs and financing decisions,” he said. As a result of the extension of the SRD grants, other social grants – such as old age grants and disability grants – will increase lower than inflation. According to Treasury, the SRD grant is ex
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| What are the factors that are driving the rising cost of living? |
The cost of living has been on the rise in recent years, and this has been a major concern for many people. There are a number of factors that are driving the rising cost of living, including:
- Inflation: Inflation is the general rise in prices of goods and services over time. Inflation can be caused by a number of factors, including:
1. Increased demand: When there is more demand for goods and services than there is supply, prices tend to go up. This can happen when the economy is growing and people have more money to spend.
2. Increased costs of production: When the cost of producing goods and services goes up, prices also tend to go up. This can happen when the cost of raw materials, labor, or energy goes up.
3. Government policies: Government policies can also affect inflation. For example, if the government prints too much money, this can lead to inflation.
- Supply chain disruptions: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to global supply chains. This has made it more difficult and expensive to get goods and services to market, which has contributed to the rising cost of living.
- The war in Ukraine: The war in Ukraine has also had a major impact on the global economy. The war has caused energy prices to go up, which has led to higher prices for goods and services that rely on energy.
- The aging population: The population of many countries is aging. This means that there are more people who are retired and drawing on Social Security or other government benefits. This can put a strain on government budgets and lead to higher taxes, which can contribute to the rising cost of living.
These are just some of the factors that are driving the rising cost of living. The rising cost of living is a major challenge for many people, and it is important to understand the factors that are contributing to it.
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