Black Sash disappointed by reapplication process for R350 grant
Human Rights group Black Sash says it is disappointed by government’s decision to require all beneficiaries of the R350 Sassa grant to reapply for the monthly relief.
Executive Director Rachel Bukasa says they have written a letter to social development and finance ministers -expressing their concern over the decision.
The Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD) was introduced in 2020 to help unemployed and poor people who were impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown.
Bukasa says the decision leaves thousands of people in trouble and without income.
“We are not clear what is the status of the payments for the grants in April, this means a whole lot of people haven’t been paid. The requirements for applying have become more stringent which makes thousands of people to be disqualified.
“We hope that the political will shifts and people realise the human rights obligations of look-out for the poor and make sure that the most vulnerable in our society are looked out after.”
The Covid-19 grant was extended from April this year to March 2023, even though President Cyril Ramaphosa lifted the national state of disaster for the pandemic.
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