Written by Dimakatso Dibakoane
Following engagements with the relevant stakeholders - including the retail, banking sector and the consumer goods council - the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) will be paying April 2020 grants earlier than usual.
This is in response to governmen’s gazetted regulations in efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has risen above 1 000.
Government has since declared the virus a national disaster and announced a 21-day national lockdown with effect from last Thursday until Thursday April 16, in intensified interventions to lower the rapid spread of the infection.
Among the regulations gazetted in the interventions is the ban of large gatherings and crowds of more than 100 in one place, to avoid possible infections from one person to another.
In compliance with the regulations, SASSA will pay social grants to the golden citizens and persons with disabilities on 30 and 31 March. The other beneficiaries will be able to access their grants from the first of April.
Giving an update on her department’s interventions in Pretoria on Saturday, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said: “We are aware that the impact of Covid-19 will be felt much harder by the most vulnerable in society - especially the elderly, hence we have decided for earlier payments for older persons and persons with disabilities to ease congestion and overcrowding. I also wish to thank sectors, most importantly, the banking and retail sectors, for working with us in this regard.”
“We will monitor all pay points especially those in the rural areas and work with all MECs of Social Development and Provincial and Regional SASSA offices to ensure that payments are distributed in line with the Disaster Management Act provisions and make sure that all the necessary precautions are in place.”
The Minister also said that for other grant recipients additional measures will be implemented to manage numbers at all pay points. “This is to ensure that hygiene protocols for everyone are strictly followed and social distancing is maintained,” she added.
As announced by Finance Minister Tito Mboweni in his budget speech in February, social grant payments will increase as follows;
• R80 increase for the old age.
• Disability and care dependency grants to R1,860 per month.
• R80 increase in the war veterans grant to R1,880.
• R40 increase for the foster care grant to R1,040 per month.
• The child support grant will increase by R20 to R445 per month.
Social grant beneficiaries are encouraged not to withdraw their money on the first day of payments and to avoid areas where large numbers of people are gathered for their own personal safety. Parents and guardians have also been urged to leave their children at home when they go to collect the payments.
Sassa has assured that once the money is in the account of the beneficiary, it will remain available for the beneficiary to access anytime and anywhere as and when required. This means that there is no need to withdraw all the money at once or before a specific date in the month.
Beneficiaries are also encouraged to use the facilities available on the SASSA or South African Post Office debit card and swipe the card to pay for purchases, rather than withdraw cash.
During her address on Saturday, Minister Zulu also reiterated the call for change of behaviour amongst all South Africans, urging everyone to practice the hygiene protocols, including regular hand wash with soap and water or hand sanitizer for at least 20 seconds, covering of caughs and sneezes with tissue or flexed elbow and to avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold and flu-like symptoms.
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