COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – Photo: GCIS / FLICKR
COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma – Photo: GCIS / FLICKR
COGTA Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has shared some bombshell information with us on Tuesday, confirming that the State of Disaster could now end ‘by the start of next week’. The laws for living with COVID-19 will be officially gazetted later this evening – but what does it all mean for the R350 grant?
The R350 grant will be removed from the National Disaster Act – here’s what it means for you…
The popular SASSA payment, created in 2020 to give South Africans a financial lifeline at the advent of the pandemic, has since been claimed by roughly 10 million citizens. On Tuesday, NDZ explained that the R350 grant would be removed from the National Disaster Management regulations.
She stated that it would ‘be a pity’ if the payments stopped abruptly. But existing claimants have no need to fear: Those already receiving the handouts will continue to do so, until at least March 2023.
Dlamini-Zuma explains ’30 day grace period’
Meanwhile, new applicants will have an additional 30 days AFTER the R350 grant is moved from the Disaster Management Act to make a claim. Dlamini-Zuma says the government is committed to protecting these beneficiaries.
“The R350 grant will continue but will be removed from the National Disaster Management regulations after 30 days. It will continue with other regulations. It would be a pity to stop these payments abruptly. SASSA will continue to take applications for the R350 grant for 30 days afterwards.”
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on the future of SASSA’s SRD payments
#CovidRegulations Dlamini-Zuma says the payment of the social distress grant which is R350 will be removed from the national state of disaster but will continue through other means.
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) March 29, 2022
‘Permanent solution’ needed for SRD grant
If the R350 grant was to lapse BEFORE a replacement was implemented, it could have serious societal consequences. GOOD Party MP Brett Herron has told the government to start making provisions for March 2023 immediately, warning that a non-permanent solution would have a devastating impact on SA.
“We have to be honest with ourselves. We are not extending the R350 per month social relief grant for 12 months. That grant can never be taken away. We’ve got 10 million people who are currently relying on it. We will not easily survive the socio-economic shock of cancelling access to that grant.”
Brett Herron
