by Black Sash first published here
IN SUMMARY:
- Black Sash is concerned about a report showing that SASSA underspent its budget by R4 billion on Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants in 2022/23.
- Many eligible people were rejected for SRD grants despite the underspending, leading to unfair exclusion of vulnerable individuals.
- SASSA lacks a system to properly track and report on public grant inquiries, leading to unresolved issues.
- Black Sash criticizes ongoing problems with SASSA’s online application system, which affects grant access for beneficiaries.
- SASSA’s push for online-only applications, especially for Child Support Grants (CSG), excludes poor individuals who lack internet access or smartphones.
- Some SASSA local offices refuse to help CSG applicants in person, forcing them to rely on the problematic online system.
- People face challenges uploading required documents online, leading them to seek help at local offices, which adds costs.
- Black Sash warns that SASSA may be moving to fully remote work, potentially closing local offices, which would limit access to support.
- Black Sash urges SASSA to consult with civil society and maintain both online and in-person application options for grants.
