As the month of June progresses, around 10 million people will be anxiously waiting to find out whether or not they will receive their Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) have announced they will begin payments for the new cycle of the R350 grant as from mid-June 2024. Recipients of the grant have not been paid since April, leaving many in difficult situations.
It was recently revealed that Sassa could not make R350 grant payments due to the Department of Social Development (DSD) finalising a functional verification process in order to ensure that all systems were in place for the disbursement of the grant.
The Congress of South African Trade Union (Cosatu) slammed Sassa for their failure to make R350 grant payments. They said it was scandalous that the DSD, treasury and Sassa had allowed this to happen.
The union said, “The administrative chaos and bureaucracy that is causing the failure to put the necessary verification and payment systems in place is scandalous.”
Sassa assured individuals who applied for SRD grant reconsideration that they will be paid if their application is successful. This applies to reconsideration applications that go as far back as August 2024.
The agency said, “The payments will not be done together, but will be done month by month. More than one payment may be made in a month, but no one will receive double payments in amount”.
Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele apologised for the period of non-payment and assured people that the government will fulfil their obligations with regard to the payment of the SRD grant.
He said, “But as long as those SRDs are due, in line with the President’s commitment, they will be paid.
