SASSA Social Grants payment dates

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SASSA ‘nearly broke’: Here’s how much money is left to fund social grants

There’s next to nothing left in the pot at SASSA, as funds for social grants run dangerously low. Lindiwe Zulu has also been blasted for her behaviour.

SASSA Social Grants payment dates

Photo: Supplied

It’s no secret that SASSA is running low on funds, but the sheer scarcity of what remains in the coffers is likely to turn many heads. The agency revealed on Wednesday that they now have ‘less than half a billion rand left’ for social grants.

How much money does SASSA has left for social grants?

The shock admission came during a day of reckoning for SASSA. Dianne Dunkerley, the Deputy Director-General for the branch of Social Development, revealed that there’s nothing left in the pot to properly fund temporary disability grants. With the R350 SRD grant also coming to an end in January, it seems the department’s accounts have been emptied out:

  • The automatic extension of the temporary disability social grant would cost R1.2 billion.
  • It’s estimated that previous extensions of the payment have cost SASSA R1.8 billion.
  • Dunkerley explained on Wednesday that ‘just R411 million‘ is left in the pot for social grants.
  • This figure could rise, however, based on the return of lapsed grants.
  • If the rate of return for lapsed grants only reaches 50%, SASSA may have over R800 million to play with. They are currently working on the assumption that returns will reach 80%, almost halving their available funds.

Lindiwe Zulu accused of ‘undermining inquiry’

The Parliamentary Inquiry, designed to drive introspection and find solutions from SASSA’s key operatives, temporarily descended into farce. Minister Lindiwe Zulu took offence to the DA allegedly calling her a ‘prima donna’ and refused to answer their questions. Her opposite number, Bridget Masango, emphatically condemned this behaviour:

“We are shocked that Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu avoided answering our questions in a Social Development Portfolio Committee meeting by hiding behind a baseless allegation. The Minister refused to answer questions by claiming that I had called her a prima-donna in a previous statement. The DA has never resorted to this, though.”

“If the Minister does wish to attribute such an insult to a member of an opposition party, Honourable Bantu Holomisa from the UDM called the Ministers collectively prima-donnas in a 2020 interview with 702. It’s clear that Minister Zulu feels this shoe fits. She must stop playing childish games and focus on finding an urgent solution to this humanitarian crisis.”

Bridget Masango