South Africa’s Anti‑Hunger & Poverty Alleviation Scheme 2025 outlines a coordinated national approach combining social grants, food support, and basic service delivery to combat hunger, malnutrition, and economic exclusion.
Anchored in constitutional rights and supported by national policy frameworks, this modern strategy targets optimal impact across the most vulnerable groups.
Scheme Objectives & Strategic Pillars
The 2025 scheme aims to
- Provide financial relief to the poorest through increased SASSA social grants.
- Expand school feeding and food-safety nets for children and families.
- Support access to free basic services such as water, electricity, health, education, and housing.
These interlinked pillars reinforce sustainable poverty reduction and food security.
Who Qualifies for Support?
The scheme integrates multiple eligibility streams
| Component | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Social Grants | Citizens meeting age and means-test criteria via SASSA |
| School Nutrition Programme | All learners in Quintile 1–3 and special schools |
| Free Basic Services | Indigent households registered with local municipalities |
| SRD Grant / UBIG Transition | Unemployed adults aged 18–59 with food poverty claims |
Over 19 million South Africans are expected to benefit from social grants alone in 2025 – including pensions, child support, disability and elderly support, with the SRD extended through March 2026.
Social Grant Enhancements in 2025
Increases announced during the March 2025 Budget Speech provide additional relief against inflation:
- Old-Age, Disability & Care-Dependency Grants up by R130 to R2,315/month
- Foster Care Grant rises to R1,250/month
- Child Support Grant increases to R560/month
- Grant-in-Aid raises to R560/month for caregivers
The government allocates over R230 billion annually for social grant distribution, supporting vulnerable households directly.
Read More- SASSA Foster Care Grant 2025 – R1,250 Monthly Support for Foster Caregivers
School Meal Support – NSNP Integration
The National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) reaches over 9 million learners daily in about 20,000 low-income schools, providing one balanced meal per school day. Each plate contains protein, starch, and vegetables following national dietary guidelines.
This reduces short-term hunger, improves school performance, and supports nutrition education and school-based food gardens .
Free Basic Services & Food Access
Under this scheme, indigent households also qualify for:
- 6 kL/month free municipal water
- 50 kWh free electricity (soon increasing to 150–200 kWh)
- Sanitation & waste removal subsidy (R50/month or 100% free)
- Free primary healthcare
- School fee exemptions for low-income households
These services protect against economic shocks and align with the broader poverty relief strategy.
How to Access Support
- Apply for social grants through SASSA offices or online portals; maintain updated banking and ID information.
- Ensure school enrolment at qualified NSNP schools for meal access.
- Register as an indigent household at your local municipality with proof of income, ID, and services account details.
- Stay informed about the SRD extension and transition to a Universal Basic Income (UBIG) by mid‑2026.
Scheme Impact & Limitations
Strengths
- Delay in hunger and food poverty across vulnerable groups.
- Multi-pronged support combines income, nutrition, and essential services.
- Designed to lift individuals toward self-reliance with incremental support.
Limitations
- Grant levels remain below living wage and food poverty line, limiting long-term nutritional benefits.
- Implementation inconsistencies, service delays and exclusion errors persist.
- Calls growing for a coherent Zero Hunger strategy, including food waste reduction and expanded land access.
Looking Ahead: 2026 & Beyond
To reinforce impact, policy proposals include:
- Transitioning the SRD grant to a UBIG model by 2026.
- Indexing grants to food poverty thresholds for meaningful purchasing power.
- Expanding NSNP beyond school days, including provision of food parcels on weekends/holidays.
- Integrating grants with public works and skills programmes to reduce dependency through sustainable livelihoods.
South Africa’s Anti‑Hunger & Poverty Alleviation Scheme 2025 uses a hybrid approach—combining social grants, free services, and school nutrition—to deliver meaningful relief to millions.
While coverage is broad, the magnitude of poverty demands further innovation, better grant indexing, nutritional sensitivity, and cross-sector coordination.
Eligible individuals and caregivers should check grant status, apply for indigent support, and ensure school participation for meal access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many South Africans benefit from social grants?
In 2025, over 19 million people receive social grants monthly excluding SRD; around 8–9 million receive the SRD grant.
2. Do these grants lift people above the food poverty line?
Not fully. Though vital, current grant amounts—especially Child Support at R560/month—often fall short of addressing nutritional needs alone. Complementary programmes are necessary.
3. How is the SRD grant evolving to fight poverty long-term?
Government plans to transition SRD into a targeted Universal Basic Income Grant (UBIG) by mid‑2026+, offering broader coverage for unemployed adults and reducing gaps in poverty relief