JOHANNESBURG - More people could be added to social welfare lines if a High Court order regarding access to the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant is implemented.
This comes after the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) and #paythegrants took the Department of Social Development to court contesting.
Among other things, the method of application, the definition of income and insufficient means and the decline in the value of the grant.
As the government mulls its next steps following the decision, the department has previously spoken about the lack of additional funding.
The two groups at the centre of agitating for more social welfare believe the economy can absorb millions more people, on top of the over 19 million who already access other grants.
READ | Social justice | Landmark judgment support social relief grant
GDP declined by 0.3% in the last reporting cycle, in an environment where growth has been minimal for years.
The number-crunchers at the IEJ believe this stagnant atmosphere is cause for concern.
The question of job creation is now being placed at the government’s feet.
The Department of Social Development said it has noted the judgment and will comment further after studying it.