Govt aware that R350 Covid-19 grant ‘not enough’, says Zulu
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has confirmed that the R350 Covid-19 social relief grant will be available to all registered South Africans and refugees.
Zulu briefed the media in Pretoria on Wednesday.
The special grant was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa last week as part of the government's expanded social relief efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zulu said applicants will need to meet a specific set of criteria.
"Applicants must be above the age of 18, unemployed, not receiving any income, not receiving any social grant, not receiving any unemployment insurance benefit and does not qualify to receive unemployment insurance benefits, not receiving a stipend from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and not resident in a government-funded or subsidised institution.”
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The department is under no illusion that R350 is not enough for people to live on, she added.
"In terms of payment, this will be made mainly through bank accounts of the applicants and cash send measures through banks. The benefit or grant will be paid from the date of approval up to the end of October 2020 provided the qualifying criteria listed continue to be met. So if applicants apply in June their payments will be from June and there will be no back pay.”
Applications can be made through the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) toll-free number, WhatsApp, and email.
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