The Department of Social Development has announced that a circulating update on various social media platforms, regarding the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, also known as the R350 grant, is actually fake news.
The hoax, which lists the SRD grant as "newly approved", declares that the amount of money associated with the grant (R350) has been increased to R550.
This is false.
An official statement from Sassa, who disburses the grant, or from the Department of Social Development has not been released confirming the hoax's validity. Only a statement announcing that it is fake has been posted to the Department's Twitter account.
South African citizens are encouraged to ignore the advertisement, and to not fall victim to the scam by believing the claims and clicking on the attached link.
Recently, changes to the SRD grant have been implemented, including the qualifying threshold.
Previously, applicants that were earning or receiving more than R350 a month would be disqualified from the grant application, and would no longer be considered to become a recipient.
But with this new adjustment, the threshold has been moved to R624 (which is the same as South Africa's food poverty line), allowing more people to qualify.
The SRD grant is a lifeline for many vulnerable South Africans in need of Government financial aid, which can only be applied for on SASSA's SRD website. Unsuccessful applicants can submit a grant appeal to the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance Appeals (ITSAA).
