Sassa to pay grants earlier

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has announced that people living with disabilities and the elderly will receive their grants on the 30th and 31st of March.

The payment of grants has been brought forward in an effort to ease congestion at pay points in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak.

In a statement, SASSA said all other grants such as child support should be paid from the 1st of April.

The agency has committed to observe hygiene protocols and  service no more than a 100 clients at any given point, as per government regulations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared Covid-19 a National Disaster.

To date, the Health ministry has confirmed 402 cases of Covid-19.

Latest confirmed cases of #COVID19 as at 23 March 2020 pic.twitter.com/ryb8WUvQv6

— Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) March 23, 2020

Government’s Covid-19 regulations

Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional affairs, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma released the regulations as designated under Section 3 of the Disaster Management Act,2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).

Among others, the regulations allow for enforcement officers to order persons at a gathering exceeding the limit of 100, to disperse or face arrest.

Sassa’s spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi said they consulted widely and then resolved to bring the date forward.

Responding to concerns regarding  cash pay points, Letsatsi assures beneficiaries that safety measures will be in place.

“Beneficiaries at pay points and post offices will be provided with hand sanitizers to prevent infections”

 

See the statement below:

SASSA MEDIA STATEMENT: Early SASSA Grant Payment for Older People and Those Living with Disability #SASSACARES @The_DSD @GCISMedia @GovernmentZA pic.twitter.com/gDyz972ema

— SASSA (@OfficialSASSA) March 23, 2020

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) older people and those with pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness.