The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) encourages the government to pay beneficiaries what they are owed, including arrears. COSATU finds it unacceptable that the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grants have not been distributed to beneficiaries in April and May.
COSATU stated that it is “callous for the Department of Social Development, Treasury and Sassa to have allowed this to happen. The administrative chaos and bureaucracy that is causing the failure to put the necessary verification and payment systems in place is scandalous”.
According to the union, it means that the government has denied its public undertaking that people will be paid their grants in a timely fashion. Not only have these recipients not received their grants but they have also not received any reason as to why their payments are delayed.
The signing of agreements with banks needs to be finalised by the government to facilitate the grant payments. The union suggests that the government also reinstates the Post Office as a paypoint to provide beneficiaries who live in rural areas and townships with a more accessible paypoint.
“It is the role of government to ensure that there are adequate social protection and security nets to ensure that millions who receive SRD grants and depend upon them are not left destitute. The delays are inhumane and should not continue to happen,” said COSATU.
COSATU believes that providing meaningful and timeous relief to the unemployed and underprivileged is the key to progress in the country.
