The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has paid 4 million people their R350 Social Relief Grant, according to Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu.
Zulu made the statement on Thursday in a hybrid sitting of the National Assembly on “Socioeconomic Interventions to Mitigate the Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic”.
Zulu said SASSA has received 7 million applications for the R350 Social Relief Grant and has already paid 4 million people.
SASSA started taking nationwide applications for the grant on 11 May 2020 and promised to make the first payment on 15 May 2020. But millions of unemployed South Africans continue to complain that they have not received their payments.
“I know that there are other issues related to some people complaining that they haven’t received their grants,” Zulu said.
“We have already done well with May and June. We think the system we have will not face the same challenges we faced in the beginning.”
Zulu and SASSA seem to be changing their figures as they report back to parliament.
SASSA spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said two months ago that SASSA has received approximately 13 million enquiries/applications about the temporary special COVID-19 SRD grant as of Monday, 25 May 2020.
But now SASSA seems to have only received 7 million applications.
SASSA also announced on Twitter:
Notice for the special COVID-19 SRD temporary grant beneficiaries: https://t.co/CX58Uozfgt pic.twitter.com/fmpOAeGKG2
— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) July 30, 2020
Yoh Sassa kunini bruh, we going to August n people haven’t received their May payments till now. As South Africans re kopa le lukise your system le tlogele go dlala ka mense, asseblief.
— Assistant ya Jeso (@Montana_Marema) July 30, 2020
I’ve been Approved since 28 May… till Today no Pay Dates Kutheni?
— Courvasier♡Back&Forth (@Rox_Geovane) July 30, 2020
