Few economic indicators reveal the state of the country’s economy as much as social grants.
A recent report by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) shows the impact of unemployment.
18 Million South Africans Desperately Need Economic Help
In SASSA’s COVID-19 unemployment report, the agency reveals 18 million South Africans applied for the R370 grant in the first 6 months of the year.
In one year, 309 387 more South Africans are applying for the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.
At the end of June 2025, 17.7 million had applied for the R370 monthly grant.
By the end of June 2026, 18 million South Africans applied.
Despite 300 000 additional applications between June 2025 and June 2026, Statistics South Africa data shows only 68 000 individuals lost work in that period.
SASSA is also approving fewer applications.
In June 2025, the agency approved 49.6% of applications it processed. By June 2026, it only approved 46.1% of the applications it processed.
In real terms, the agency approved 361 107 fewer applications.
SRD Grant Demographics
Most applicants are women.
According to the report, 9.69 million women applied for the R370 grant, compared to 8.32 million men.
62% of all applicants are under 35.
That increases to 81% for all applicants under 44.
Fewer under-20s are applying. As are fewer over-50s.
5% of Applicants Have Tertiary Education
Most unemployed South Africans have matric, at least according to the report.
The report shows 45% of applicants have matric.
But, more concerningly, 5% of applicants have tertiary education.
This is only 2 percentage points less than those with no schooling and 1 percentage point less than those with a primary school education.
What the Applications Reveal About Unemployment
To get approved for the grant, beneficiaries must earn less than R624 a month.
That means everyone approved will be unemployed at the time of applying.
But to be eligible, they also can’t be receiving payments from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
The report spotlights how many South Africans are living in poverty.
At least 7.9 million South Africans, as of June 2026, are living on less than R34 a day.
Most shockingly, more people applied for the grant than there are employed people in South Africa.
Stats SA data showed that at the end of June 2026, 16.7 million South Africans were employed.
That means there were 10% more applications for a R370 grant than there are employed people in the country.
