President Cyril Ramaphosa announced during the State of the Nation Address (Sona) on Thursday, 12 February 2026.
He said the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant that was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic will continue as it has kept poverty at bay for millions of South Africans.
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“As a transformative instrument to improve the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people, this grant will be continued.
“This year, we will redesign the grant to more effectively support livelihoods, skills development, work opportunities and productive activity. We know that most of the money provided through social grants is spent on food and transport.”
More than 28 million people receive social grants in South Africa, including the R370.
Ramaphosa said in Mzansi’s cities and towns, most people live far from their workplaces and essential services.
He said the government is remaking the cities and reducing the cost of living for working families by expanding affordable housing and revitalising commuter rail.
“We are introducing a new model for housing, where people are given subsidies for ownership and rental in areas that are suitable for them.”
“We are shifting from building houses for people to supporting them to build, buy or rent their own housing.”
Ramaphosa said this year, the government will embark on a mission to end child stunting by 2030 and tackle malnutrition among young children.
He said the focus will be on the crucial first 1 000 days of a child’s life.
“A major contributor to child stunting is excessive alcohol consumption, which can affect a child’s development during pregnancy.
“Alcohol abuse leads to violence, road accidents and crime. To address this scourge, we call on provincial governments to strengthen the regulation of alcohol by limiting the density of liquor outlets, restricting trading hours and ending the sale of alcohol in large containers,” said Ramaphosa.
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He said the national government has proposed measures to curb excessive alcohol use, including minimum unit pricing or higher excise duties and greater restrictions on alcohol advertising, which they are consulting with stakeholders.
