Concerns raised about SASSA’s ability to administer new R350 grant

The newly introduced R350 Relief of Distress grant – which can be claimed by up to six million eligible South Africans – will be rolled out in the next week or two. But concerns have already been lodged about how SASSA will manage the administrative payment process.

New R350 grant available to South Africans

Bridget Masango, who serves as the shadow minister for social development, is perplexed by SASSA’s approach. Instead of opening up more of their offices – an entitlement they have as a key service – the department has decided to send an ‘army of volunteers’ into neighbourhoods to help with digital applications.

Those who qualify for the monthly R350 grant – which could pay out as much as R2 100 for recipients over its temporary six-month life span – will have to apply via WhatsApp or email. SASSA’s dependence on volunteers has left the DA representative with several issues to contend with.

• SASSA’s proposal “could expose already vulnerable people to exploitation from criminals”, who pose as volunteers.
• Masango says “it does not make sense” for people to apply for bank accounts now when the grants will only be paid for six months. An account has been listed as a necessity for the application by SASSA.
• The Lekwa Municipality in Mpumalanga is, allegedly, “charging people R30 for proof of residence documents”. The shadow minister is asking; how will this be policed properly?

The new R350 grant: Is SASSA prepared properly?

In a statement recently released by the DA, the party have framed this exercise as a ‘waste of money’:

“The DA has learned with some trepidation that SASSA’s answer to this problem is not to open its offices, but to train volunteers to go into communities to assist people without access to technology. There seems to be little reason for this proposal. Yet SASSA already has an extensive footprint with offices around the country.”

“The agency has staff that are readily trained to assist people that are currently home. SASSA’s next logical step should have been to capacitate their offices and allow their employees to do the jobs they were trained for and for which they are being paid. Why spend money on training volunteers and acquiring gadgets?”

Bridget Masango