(University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2023) Lidaga, Olga Refiloe
The Covid-19 pandemic generated major setbacks in South Africa, mainly in terms of a decrease in employment opportunities, increased poverty, and economic hardships. To reduce the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government implemented the Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRDG), which targeted those who had no source of income. Despite all these efforts, unemployment and poverty continue to rise. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of the SRDG programme in Mathole Ville, a neighbourhood west of Johannesburg. The study found that government spending in the form of the Covid-19 SRDG increased demand and supply due to beneficiaries spending their funds on neighbourhood businesses, resulting in an increase in neighbourhood businesses turnover. However, the increase in turnover could not increase workers' income or employment opportunities. The study also found that the Covid-19 SRDG did not alleviate poverty as recipients remained below the poverty line
