The R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant was paid to beneficiaries, for a year, until April. But with lockdown restrictions ramped up, calls have been growing for it to be reinstated.
Advocacy group The Black Sash said: “It is imperative that stricter lockdown regulations be complemented by the immediate reinstatement of the Covid-19 SRD Grant.”
In a statement the group added that not only should thegrant return, but it should be increased: “The grant's eligibility criteria must be expanded to include unemployed women who receive a Child Support Grant (CSG) on behalf of children. On average, only about 30% of recipients of the Covid-19 SRD grant were women. About 98% of women are recipients of the CSG which made them automatically ineligible for the Covid-19 SRD grant.”
In a response to Parliament this month the Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said: “"It is estimated that between the caregivers' allowance and the Covid-19 grant of R350, approximately 36 million individuals benefited from these both directly and indirectly."
This stark reality has led to calls for the government to once again assist those who have lost their jobs because of the adjusted level 4 lockdown regulations which bans the sale of alcohol and closed gyms, cinemas and casinos.
The Black Sash said in a statement: “The value of the grant must be increased to the Food Poverty Line (R585), given the escalating costs of food, transport and electricity. The eligibility criteria for this grant must also be expanded to include unemployed women who receive the Child Support Grant on behalf of their children.”
Weekend Argus