SASSA must account for failure to release distress grants after two months into lockdown

SASSA last week admitted to parliament’s portfolio committee on Social Development its failure to deliver social relief of distress grants meant for millions of unemployed and vulnerable citizens amid nearly two full months into the national lockdown.

It was further revealed that only 10 people in the country received this special grant, despite the national Department of Social Development and SASSA reassuring the nation that all grant payments would have commenced on 15 May 2020.

Gillion Bosman MPP said: “SASSA ought to be the primary agent for social support and should have been better capacitated to administer such an enormous task. The national lockdown has been ongoing for two months. It is grossly unacceptable that the R350 distress grants have still not reached deserving applicants. As we observe World Hunger Day today, it is clear that government is staring this crisis in the face.”

Gillion Bosman MPP added: “In my capacity as Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Development in the province, I have written to SASSA Western Cape requesting an urgent update on grant payments in the province.

Furthermore, I have invited SASSA Western Cape to appear in front of the committee to give a detailed account on the province’s numbers pertaining to applicants and the rate of distribution after level 3 of the lockdown has been implemented. This is set to be after 1 June 2020.”

The Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape remains committed to protecting the rights of our most vulnerable citizens and will use every tool at our disposal to ensure national government fulfils its legislative mandate and account for its administrative failures that have affected millions of citizens during this time.