Dylan Bettencourt
The first phase of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) fund paid out around six million people after receiving close to 10 million applications.
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu announced that the pay-out cost approximately R24 billion with a further R15 billion paid as top-up payments for six months across all of the different grant categories.
Speaking at a virtual briefing, Zulu said all the applications were made online which speeded up the process.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently put the nation onto an adjusted level three lockdown which included the reinstatement of the R350 SRD grant to be paid to beneficiaries every month until March 2022.
Zulu said the grant has proven to be successful with hunger and vulnerability reduced through the grant as well as the caregiver allowance.
“The success of this grant will hopefully lead to a basic income grant for South Africans in the near future,” Zulu said.
She added that the department is currently working on the policy aspects surrounding the grants.
However, despite Zulu stating the grant has reduced poverty and inequality, Black Sash put together a report which indicated the R350 amount was not enough for individuals to survive.
The organisation said that the amount should be closer to R1,268 or the bare minimum of R585 which will be in line with the food poverty line.
The second phase of the SRD grant applications begins on Friday 6 August with the first payments set to roll out at the end of the month.
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