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About 80 organizations said that the COVID-19 Social Distress Relief Grant and the Caregiver Grant should be extended until the country has a comprehensive plan for guaranteed basic income.
FILE: Social distancing is imposed in a mall where social grant recipients are collecting their payments on March 30, 2020. Image: @ The_DSD / Twitter
CAPE TOWN – Civil society organizations have demanded the government to extend and increase the R350 COVID-19 Social Distress Relief Grant and the Caregiver Grant to R585 per month.
About 80 organizations said they should be extended until the country has a comprehensive guaranteed basic income plan.
The organizations held an urgent press conference on Monday.
Civil society organizations said now is not the time to cut social assistance.
Shaeera Kalla of the Institute for Economic Justice said the pandemic was far from over and that South Africa was at risk of a second wave.
He said the grants should run until at least the end of the current financial year in March.
“All available information suggests that the government has decided not to extend the subsidies at the end of October.
“The government’s decision to end the relief measures is irresponsible and reprehensible given the socioeconomic realities of our country.”
Former public protector Thuli Madonsela has also added her voice to the #PayTheGrants movement, saying she supports the initiative.
“The blockade cannot be ended overnight. The impact of the closure and preventing people from earning income will be with us for quite some time. “
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