Reports coming in suggest that more than 1 million South Africans who have been approved for the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) R350 grant have not yet received payment as of January 2023. This is a worrying development given the current state of the economy in South Africa and the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable populations.
Many of these approved applicants have been given pay dates, while others have not been given any indication of when they can expect payment. This has left many families in a dire situation, as they rely on the SRD R350 grant to make ends meet.
It is important to note that the SRD R350 grant is a crucial lifeline for many vulnerable South Africans who have been impacted by the pandemic. This grant is meant to provide temporary financial relief to those who are struggling to make ends meet due to the pandemic, and it is unacceptable that so many approved applicants have not yet received payment.
We urge SASSA and other Civil Societies to prioritize the payment of approved applicants and to provide regular updates on the progress of the payment process. We also call on the government to provide additional resources and support to expedite the payment process, as this is a matter of urgency for many families.
