The Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ), #PaytheGrants (#PTG), and the Socio-Economic Rights Institute (SERI) will hold a press conference on Friday, 24 January 2025, to discuss the historic judgment in the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant court case. The judgment is a resounding victory for fairness, dignity and constitutional rights, directly and indirectly impacting millions of lives.
DATE: Friday, 24 January 2025
TIME: 1 PM
VENUE: IEJ Offices | Third Floor, 62 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
ONLINE: You can REGISTER for the press conference here.
SPEAKERS: Dr Gilad Isaacs (IEJ), Elizabeth Raiters (#PTG), and Nomzamo Zondo (SERI)
The judgment has found the procedural barriers that have been put in place to prevent eligible persons in desperate need from accessing the SRD grant are unlawful. In addition, the court agreed with our challenge to the rolling back of the grant in terms of the low and arbitrary value and means-test threshold. We argued that this contradicts the government’s constitutional obligation to progressively realise (advance) the right to social assistance within the maximum available resources. Initially, IEJ and PTG leadership had this to say:
“This is not just a court ruling. This is hope. It is a loaf of bread. A bag of seeds. A light bulb that glows. It is possibility. For years, beneficiaries have been left suffering; rejected and denied the support they deserve. And every year, it got worse and worse, and their cries were ignored. Today, we are heard. Today, we get to go tell our neighbours and our communities to have hope. #UBIGNow” – #PTG
“We are thrilled by this outcome which not only provides desperately needed immediate relief but also serves as an affirmation of the government’s duty to the most vulnerable. For far too long the National Treasury has used austerity policy to block and undermine the advancement of constitutional rights and the upliftment of the majority. The SRD grant regulations are a clear example of this. The judgment refuses to allow the National Treasury to justify indignities visited on the most vulnerable by claiming that the enjoyment of our rights is ‘unaffordable’. This judgment is especially important given the persisting unemployment and hunger crisis in South Africa. The remedies granted will materially impact over half the population, both directly and indirectly.“ – Dr Gilad Isaacs, IEJ
The judgment and our organisations’ reactions to it will be unpacked further at the press conference.
[ENDS]
For media inquiries, please contact:
- Dalli Weyers | IEJ | dalli.weyers@iej.org.za | 082 460 2093
- Tyler Temoho Kgospula | #PTG | tyler@paythegrants.org.za | 067 044 1201
Amaarah is a Junior Programme Officer in the Rethinking Economics for Africa project. She is currently studying towards her Masters in Applied Development Economics at Wits University. 
Dr James Musonda is the Senior Researcher on the Just Energy Transition at the IEJ. He is also the Principal Investigator for the Just Energy Transition: Localisation, Decent Work, SMMEs, and Sustainable Livelihoods project, covering South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya.
Dr Basani Baloyi is a Co-Programme Director at the IEJ. She is a feminist, development economist and activist. She gained her research experience while working on industrial policy issues in academia, at the Centre For Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) and Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID) Unit.
Dr Andrew Bennie is Senior Researcher in Climate Policy and Food Systems at the IEJ. He has extensive background in academic and civil society research, organising, and activism. Andrew has an MA in Development and Environmental Sociology, and a PhD in Sociology on food politics, the agrarian question, and collective action in South Africa, both from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Juhi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Sociology from Wits University and an Honours degree in Development Studies from the University of Cape Town. Her current research focus is on social care regimes in the South African context, with a particular focus on state responses to Early Childhood Development and Long-Term Care for older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her other research areas include feminist economics, worlds of work and the care economy.
Bandile Ngidi is the Programme Officer for Rethinking Economics for Africa. Bandile has previously worked at the National Minimum Wage Research Initiative and Oxfam South Africa. He holds a Masters in Development Theory and Policy from Wits University. He joined the IEJ in August 2018. Bandile is currently working on incubating the Rethinking Economics for Africa movement (working with students, academics and broader civil society). 
Liso Mdutyana has a BCom in Philosophy and Economics, an Honours in Applied Development Economics, and a Masters in Applied Development Economics from Wits University. His areas of interest include political economy, labour markets, technology and work, and industrial policy. Through his work Liso aims to show the possibility and necessity of economic development that prioritises human wellbeing for everyone.
Joan Stott holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics and a Master’s in Economics from Rhodes University. She brings to the IEJ a wealth of experience in public finance management, policy development, institutional capacity-building, and advancing socioeconomic and fiscal justice.
Siyanda Baduza is a Junior Basic Income Researcher at IEJ. He holds a BSc in Economics and Mathematics, an Honours degree in Applied Development Economics, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Applied Development Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand. Siyanda’s research focuses on the impacts of social grants on wellbeing, with a particular focus on the gendered dynamics of this impact. His interests include applied micro-economics, policy impact evaluation, labour markets, gender economics, and political economy. He is passionate about translating economic research into impactful policy.
Shikwane is a Junior Programme Officer at IEJ focusing on civil society support and global governance in the G20. He has a background in legal compliance, IT contracting and student activism. He holds degrees in Political Studies and International Relations, as well as an LLB, from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr Tsega is a Senior Researcher focusing on Women’s Economic Empowerment within the G20. She examines gender equity in economic policy, with expertise in food systems and small enterprise development. She holds a PhD in development studies from the University of the Western Cape, an MA in Development Economics, and degrees in Development Studies and Economics from UNISA and Addis Ababa University.
Nerissa is a G20 Junior Researcher at IEJ, focusing on advancing civil society priorities within the G20 framework. She bridges data, research, and policy to advance inclusive economic frameworks. She is completing a Master’s in Data Science (e-Science) at the University of the Witwatersrand, and holds Honours and Bachelor’s Degrees in International Relations with distinction. She has worked as a Research Fellow at SAIIA and a Visiting Research Fellow at Ipea in Brazil.
Dr Mzwanele is a Senior Researcher supporting South Africa’s G20 Sherpa with policy research. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham and an MSc from the University of the Witwatersrand. His work covers open macroeconomics, trade, finance, and higher education policy, and he has published widely on inequality, unemployment, household debt and higher education curriculum reform.
Kamal is the Project Lead for IEJ’s G20 work, focusing on sovereign debt and development finance. He holds a BComm (Hons) in Applied Development Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand and an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Economic Policies for the Global Transition. He has worked with SCIS, UNCTAD and co-founded Rethinking Economics for Africa.