Busisiwe Memela, the CEO of the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), says the organisation will screen COVID-19 special grants applicants against other databases to see whether they qualify.

On Thursday, Memela on Cape Talk radio detailed Sassa plans for registering and distributing relief money to unemployed South Africans impacted by the lockdown.

In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, the country imposed a 21-day lockdown that has since been extended by two weeks to the end of April. However, on Thursday President Cyril Ramaphosa announced five-level plan to ease lockdown.

As part of a R50 billion directed towards relieving the plight of those most desperately affected by the coronavirus, the South African government announced this week a temporary 6-month Coronavirus grant. For more read: SA’s Unemployed to Receive R2, 100 Each in COVID-19 Special Grants

Jobless. Image source: Muse

A special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for the next 6 months will be paid to individuals who are currently unemployed and do not receive any other form of a social grant or UIF payment.

Memela said Sassa will screen applicants against other databases to see whether they qualify. These databases will include the SA Revenue Service (Sars), the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

“The system will automatically say whether you qualify or don’t qualify… Then we’ll put you to the back-end and process the payment.”

She told Cape Talk radio that unemployed South Africans are going to be using a USSD or a WhatsApp process for them to be able to register for the COVID-19 special grants.

Memela added that foreign nationals would qualify for the COVID-19 special grants.

“If you have legal papers to be in South Africa, you will qualify. If you’re a registered refugee, you would qualify,” she told Cape Talk.

For more, listen to the explanation on Cape Talk’s Afternoon Drive with John Maytham here.

The COVID-19 special grants will start at the beginning of May.

Sassa is likely to pay the COVID-19 special grants recipients through e-voucher, a mobile money transfer or, a bank account.

Also read: SA President Ramaphosa Announces R500-bn Stimulus Package

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134 Comments

    • Makhuzandile jeffrey maliwa on

      Andi sebenzi mna ndihlala ezilalini apho singe nawo namnzi okanye itank .itep aziphuminto ndicela lenxaso ye R350,enkosi

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are still waiting for formal details from SASSA and will post them here once they publish the real details. Beware fake details on social media. Waiting for formal communications from SASSA. We will publish the details once they are ready.

      • Sanelisiwe on

        Sassa contact is still not available how did others apply because some have received 350 vouchers already…

      • Nobuhle Mfuphi on

        Good day i would like to ask on behalf of myself and mother….She is 55 does she qualify for grant?and as for me who is receiving NSFAS do i qualify?

    • I’m also unemployed, I wanna apply for this grant. Kubi kuyabheda .with 5 dependants

  1. Fikile Olivian Mtshali on

    Hi
    My name is Fikile Mtshali I’m a
    Un employment person I apply this form for Corona grant

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are still waiting for formal details from SASSA and will post them here once they publish the real details. Beware fake details on social media. Waiting for formal communications from SASSA. We will publish the details once they are ready.

  2. Elizabeth on

    hi
    my name is magret I’m unemployment so i whant to know where can i register that 350

    • Hi would u kindly inform the public the watsapp no regarding the grant of R350.
      According to yr web site they talking about u can submit yr ID. No and name. Thks

      • Gugu Lourie on

        Hi, the WhatsApp number has not been issued by SASSA. We will publish the numbers once they do so.

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are still waiting for formal details from SASSA and will post them here once they publish the real details. Beware fake details on social media. Waiting for formal communications from SASSA. We will publish the details once they are ready.

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are still waiting for formal details from SASSA and will post them here once they publish the real details. Beware fake details on social media. Waiting for formal communications from SASSA. We will publish the details once they are ready.

  3. Maria Morake on

    Good day my name is Maria Morake I’m unemployment I will like to apply for coronavucor grand

  4. Maart Motshwane on

    Thank you for providing us with this platform. My sister does not have access to these technologies as such she keeps calling me and asking me how to apply and when so please keep us updated.

  5. Maserole Annah Kgomo on

    I am Praising our HONORABLE PRESIDENT Ramaphosa for Economic Relief Boost He is Distributing to our Fellow Unemployed Brothers and Sisters. I am PROUD OF THE COMMITMENT LOVE FOR HIS COUNTRY HE IS SHOWING AT THIS TIME. Our President LOOKS TIRED, EAGER to Assist His Fellow Men and Women, Children and Parents Of His Country.
    We are eagerly waiting to know the process of registration as most of our people are unable to read and understand.
    It is my Humble request to also ignite the issue of the employed as cost are beating them, e.g. three University student are home, Water Bill, Electricity and food is rising.
    Municipal Water rates also escalate as all are at home ALL THE TIME. Pensioners are also experiencing Financial constraints as grand children are home, not school, everything is escalating.
    Please Let there be Monitoring or Prices Escalation in Supermarket like Spar as it a Franchise, its Prices are Abnormally High,,, Please all Retailers should not Escalate Prices cause of Unemployed Grants and increaments. WELL DONE OUR PRESIDENT AND OFFICIALS AT LARGE..

  6. Hart Chauke on

    Thank you for letting us know of any fraud which is likely to happen. I also think it should be publicized on how to apply and access the grand.People are hungry and desperate which may prompt the to fall prey on fraudsters.

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We will publish the SASSA number once they issue it and currently, there is no number. Be aware of scams.

      • Sthembiso on

        Hi sir I’m unemployed looking to get relief fund of R350.we thank the government for what is doing for how country and the the nation together we will conqour, overcome, adapt as a nation

  7. My name is My i want to apply for the unemployment grant So there’s WhatsApp number going around for people who want to apply for R350 grant is it legit?

  8. Ngomane Mtineri on

    Plz update me. I am currently unemployed and I will like to apply for this grant

    • Gugu Lourie on

      Please keep on visiting the news site. We will publish the process of applying once SASSA makes it public. Currently, they are busy finalising the process.

  9. Pingback: Coronavirus: Sassa Warns of COVID-19 Special Grant Scam

  10. Dennis Baloyi on

    Hi im uneployed not receiving any compensation from the three particular scheems uif,sassa and nsfas im south african citizen since the whole of lockdown i was unable to work as self employed so this R350 can help

  11. patricia pilane on

    hi am happy my mother and brother are unemployment and they stay together so they want to apply how can they apply

  12. Anele Tomase on

    Which media are you going to use to communicate the information on how to register. My question is because social Facebook to be frank is filled with information on how to register people are paniccing.

  13. Please publish the details once you get it not only on social media also on radio and TV, because some they don’t have data and smart phone.

  14. Anna Mgudlwa on

    Thanks for everything that you are doing for us. It seems there are lot of false info out there since it was never mentioned when application should start. We’ll wait patiently for applications details

  15. Hi Goodday i just wanted to find out how can i apply for the unemployment grant of rR350. Thank you

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are waiting for SASSA to provide more details on how to apply and the criteria. We will publish them on this platform once they are made public.

      • Mmakgosi Sharon Mamuno on

        Thanks.plss let us know as soon as u got more information about how to register.i am don’t have any income and I also don’t get any grants pls help.

  16. Thank You for the great decision to our president…we see that it hard on him but hopefully this academic will pass

  17. Deon Baliram on

    Hi I would like to know what documents are required for me apply for the R350 Relief of Distress for the unemployed thanks .

    • Gugu Lourie on

      We are waiting for SASSA to provide more details on how to apply and the criteria. We will publish them on this platform once they are made public.

  18. F.Mohamed on

    It’s the 27 April 2020..and we have not received proper directives as how to apply for the unemployment grant..

  19. TG. Makhuba on

    How to register. We looking for number to register. Please . SMS me On 06. MR TF MAKHUBA.

  20. Masibulele on

    I’m Masibulele Ponoyi I’m unemployed and I wanna apply for this covid-19 grant

  21. Good day

    Why are we being kept in the wait by our leaders? The announcement was made but the way forward is not there? We are desperate we are hungry. We have filled in and signed sassa forms for food and nothing here yet . That was done 2 days after the first announcement of the lockdown. Our children are starving and all we hear is wait I’m getting tired of false hopes. Please give us a way forward on how to apply for the R350

  22. Hi, are we going to get a lump sum of R2100 or R350 monthly and besides having SA ID, proof of unemployement and not getting any kind of grant from the govt. what else can make you not to qualify for this unemployment grant?

  23. Mahlogonolo on

    We’re will the information be found and when will it be available to us to apply

  24. When will they publish them because they said 1st of May they will start sending the money it’s almost end off

  25. Hy my name it’s zandile ..I’m unemployed and having one child so i want to know if weather I’ll be able to Qualify for an unemployment grant?

  26. Anastasia Ngobeni on

    For the people who are already sasssa beneficiaries is there any need to apply for the additional R250 or not

  27. How do people apply for unemployed 350 grant for six months , president sad that how do we apply ?????

  28. Hi can someone inform us about registration of covid-19 special grant details if there is any

  29. Pingback: Jobless To Get R350 Monthly COVID-19 Special Grant Via WhatsApp

    • Nobuhle Mfuphi on

      Good day i have a question and need clarity, Does a 55 years old qualify for sassa special grant? and as a student receiving nsfas do i qualify?

  30. Hi please help on how to apply or please give us the whats app numbers that we will use to apply with

  31. As a citizen I appreciate what the government is providing in terms of unemployment grand…but how is this process going to be done without any miss manage and benefiting the politicians as it has been with food parcels…South Africa does not have the database of all our unemployment citizens….I will like to ask the government to do justice in this process.

  32. Rachel Rabosiwana on

    My name is Sarah Rabosiwana as I want to apply for the unemployment grant, can you please be helpful so I can receive the grant.

  33. Thokozani Gumede on

    I want to apply for urnyemploy social grant that number is putting me some were icant find what im looking fore

  34. Allan Lee Van Wyk on

    Do have a bank account and proof of residence. What about those that don’t have that available to them, but have a ID number and cell contact

  35. Fadia Omar on

    Hi my name is fadia Omar and I would like to apply for unemployment grant can you please assist me.

  36. Fadia Omar on

    Good day will you please assist me I’m applying for a grant as I am umemployed at the moment.

  37. Thavendran Govender on

    Everyone is still waiting for the government to inform us how to apply for the unemployment grant, with out any information given to us how will we be able to apply and the government also stated people who apply late will not be back paid so how are we to prevent that if we are not given any details on where and how to apply please let us know asap as we are already in 1 may can someone assist us thank you will be waiting for feedback.

  38. Matlou Chimole on

    Am unemployed singlemother of two children live at ly own place what to do to register

  39. What about those families who don’t have any id documents.how will they survive during lockdown.will they be able to apply for R350 uneployment grant???

  40. Will this application of R350 COVID 19 relief grant for the unemployment be materialised by any chance🤷 if yes how and when 🤔

  41. Ncamisile on

    I live alone wit my brother..his not working Nd we struggle alot bcoz I’m not working to.how can we apply for this R350 for my brother. Please keep us posted.

  42. I put through my application on the 14th – I did not receive any payment on the 15th. I did not even receive a response to the application. Is there anyone who received anything?

  43. Can I get the SRD grant while I’m getting the child grant for my 3 kids? We are not surviving on this grants alone – I’m not employed.

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