distress to needy communities
15 January 2009
Minister Zola Skweyiya appeals to civil society and faith based
organisations (FBOs) for support in distributing social relief of distress to
needy communities.
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya has approved the
establishment of special task teams to fast track the distribution of the
Social Relief of Distress assistance in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal,
following reports of extreme poverty in parts of the two provinces.
Reports indicate that 3,5 million people in the Eastern Cape and two million
in KwaZulu-Natal live in extreme poverty. Plans are in place to establish a
task team to assist in the North West province as well. Social Relief of
Distress is a temporary provision of assistance intended for people facing
hardships and who are unable to meet their families' most basic needs.
Dr Skweyiya recently allocated R500 million for the Social Relief of
Distress, which must be spent by 31 March 2009. "People have been very slow in
coming forward to apply and we believe it is lack of knowledge. I appeal to all
stakeholders including traditional and local leaders, non-governmental
organisations, faith based organisations and youth organisations to help us
identify and reach households that are facing undue hardships. I heard about
children in the Western Cape who eat ants due to lack of food. Others have no
school uniforms. This is tragic as the money is available from government to
assist," said Dr Skweyiya.
The task teams comprise officials from the South African Social Security
Agency (SASSA) and national and provincial departments of Social Development
Social Relief of Distress worth between R230 to R960 is issued monthly or for
any other period for a maximum period of three months. Extension of the period
by a further three months may be granted in exceptional cases. Successful
applicants obtain cash, a food voucher or medical assistance depending on need,
after assessment by social workers.
In order to qualify for Social Relief of Distress, the applicant must comply
with one or more of the following conditions amongst others:
* The breadwinner is deceased and insufficient means are available.
* The applicant is awaiting permanent aid.
* The applicant has been found medically unfit to undertake remunerative work
for a period of less than six months.
* The applicant has been affected by a disaster, and the specific area has not
yet been declared a disaster area.
* The applicant has appealed against the suspension of his or her grant.
Division of R500 million between provinces:
Eastern Cape: R100 million
Free State: R34,5 million
Gauteng: R62 million
KwaZulu-Natal: R119,5 million
Limpopo: R80 million
Mpumalanga: R36,5 million
Northern Cape: R12,5 million
North West: R33,5 million
Western Cape: R21,5 million
Total: R500 million
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
Issued by: Department of Social Development
15 January 2009
