Home PodcastJulie Alli ‘Still no basic income guaranteed for the most vulnerable as harsh lockdowns imposed’ – Daddy Mabe

‘Still no basic income guaranteed for the most vulnerable as harsh lockdowns imposed’ – Daddy Mabe

by Umamah Bakharia

PRETORIA – As of 30 April 2021, The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) discontinued the R350 Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant for unemployed people.

“This means that no new applications will be accepted after this date. However, all applications which have been approved and who have not yet received the money will still be paid,” SASSA said in a statement.

 

“Grants has stopped in April and since then there has not been any kind of assistance for the unemployed and the poor, the situation is very bad,” said Daddy Mabe from the COVID-19 People’s Coalition Cash Transfers.


R350 special grant was an initiative that the government implemented in order to assist those affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020. Mabe said that, with the high rate of unemployment in the country,  the grant should be sustained for as long as people are unemployed.


“This grant was like an episode that came about because of COVID-19, it was not supposed to be a temporary feature. It has to continue because that is the core of our struggle,” he said.


The C-19 People’s Coalition is aimed at ensuring that the South African response to the virus is effective and meets the needs of the most marginal through social movements, trade unions, community organisations and NGO’s.


According to Mabe, C-19 has written letters and made submissions for the unemployment grant to continue but the government is yet to respond.

 

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu previously indicated that they are waiting to see if the R350 grant for the unemployed will be extended during the third wave.


When asked about what is the next step for the C-19 People’s Coalition, Mabe says, “Our struggle will continue and while we are doing this other people will find means to survive. We will continue to engage and remind [President Cyril] Ramaphosa that the very people who voted for him are suffering.”


However, the COVID-19 Temporary Employees Relief Scheme (TERS) will resume within July. It will be available to workers who have been negatively affected by the level 4 restrictions that were put in place last week.

 

Julie Alli spoke to Daddy Mabe from the C-19 People’s Coalition on News & Views.

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