Black Slash concerned over Sassa's delay

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) apologised to all unpaid clients over the delay in the covid 19 relief grants. They stated that the payments would be made as soon as an administrative issue was sorted out.

The delay comes with the final payment of the special R350 grant that came to an end on 30 April. The Black Sash's Esley Philander said that the payment delay was not an isolated incident as they have made the same mistake before, with the same excuses. Some beneficiaries were awaiting several payments, but Sassa has warned that they may not come as double payments, lump sums or on the same day but could split over days and weeks.

Philander maintained that this was not ideal and that Sassa must intervene decisively and communicate clearly when lump sum payments could be expected. At the same time, the human rights organisation has been calling for the grant to be extended until a basic income grant was introduced.

 By Everngelista Muza