The Black Sash has slammed further delays in the paying of the R350 Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and rejected Sassa suggestions that it may be paid in bits instead of lump sums, says a News24 report.

The organisation also warned that besides not getting the help they were promised, the grant recipients were gathering in desperation in large groups at payment points during the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘People with zero income – because that is what it takes to qualify for this grant – are still waiting for sign-off in order to buy food,’ said Black Sash spokesperson Esley Philander.

Sassa said the delay was due to it waiting for permission to use funds from the previous financial year.

‘Sassa has noticed that some unpaid, but approved, applicants are panicking and as a result tend to gather at post offices requesting payment,’ Sassa said in a statement.

‘All such applicants of the special Covid-19 SRD grant, who have been approved, but not yet paid, can rest assured that they will be paid as soon as possible.’

The R350 SRD grant was supposed to be a lifeline to the desperately poor during the Covid-19 pandemic from May 2020.

It was extended to October 2020 and again to January and then to February.

‘The escalating hunger crisis is a violation of the constitutional right to food. The Black Sash urges government departments and agencies to work together to ensure prompt payment to beneficiaries,’ said the Black Sash.

Full News24 report