Reliance on government funding grew as the proportion of individuals receiving social grants increased from 12.8% in 2003 to 30.9% in 2019 and surged to 40.1% in 2024 due to the introduction of the special Covid-19 social relief of distress (SRD) grant. This is according to the General Household Survey released by Stats SA ealier today.  The percentage of households that received at least one grant increased from 30.8% in 2002 to 50.4% last year. Thabiso Kotane speaks to Stats SA Acting DDG for Social and Population and Social Statistics, Solly Molayi.