29 November 2007
The national Department of Social Development is to make available a total
of R87 million to provinces to help individuals and families who are living in
extreme poverty.
This was announced at the meeting of the Minister of Social Development,
Zola Skweyiya and provincial MECs in Durban today, 29 November 2007. The funds,
additional to amounts provinces already have for relief, will be utilised to
assist individuals and families that are facing hardship, to enable them to
cope in the short term while they look for long term solutions to their
predicament.
The Social Relief of Distress grant will be distributed in the form of cash
or food parcels depending on household needs. "This is an important
intervention from government, especially in light of the steep rise in food
prices, unemployment and other difficulties which have worsened the
circumstances of the extremely poor", said Minister Skweyiya.
The current allocations are as follows:
* Eastern Cape: R9 million
* Free State: R3,9 million
* Gauteng: R11 million
* Mpumalanga: R5,6 million
* Northern Cape: R2,6 million
* North West: R7,6 million
* Western Cape: R4,5 million
* KwaZulu-Natal: R24 million
The Minister added that the money is not intended to promote dependency. "It
is a short term measure to assist those in distress until they get back on
their feet," he said.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
29 November 2007
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
