Cutting Covid-19 grant breaks the constitutional promise, says Black Sash
Black Sash has equated the halting of the special R350 Covid-19 grant to breaking the constitution’s promise.
The grant was originally meant to run from May to October 2020 as a temporary provision of assistance during the peak of Covid19.
The R350 is intended for persons in such dire material need that they are unable to meet their or their families’ most basic needs.
President Cyril Ramaphpsa extended the grant by three months extended the grant and is set to come to an end on 30 April.
The Black Sash and Pay The Grants will picket outside South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and Post offices on Friday demanding that grants be made permanent.
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The pickets will start at 11 am across the country.
Black Sash's Shaheera Kalla says the reasons such measures were put in place have not changed.
"We are still in the midst of the pandemic and we now entering the third wave," Kalla says.
Kalla says the organisation is frustrated by government’s lack of acknowledgement of the urgency of the issue.
She adds that stopping the relied grant will mean millions will be without basic needs.
"The cuts to public spending proposed in the budget break the contsituitions promise to improve the quality of all.
"This includes direct regression to the right to basic education, health care services and social security and safety.”
