The South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) has tightened its criteria for beneficiaries, not allowing them to refuse employment. The new regulations require beneficiaries of R350 SRD grant not to refuse employment or education opportunities with no valuable reason.
In addition, beneficiaries would be expected to confirm after every three months whether they are still in need of the R350 grant. If they fail to disclose, they will not be paid.
Briefing lawmakers in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday, Brenton van Vrede, the Department of Social Development’s chief director said: “A new condition has been added to the regulations requiring clients not to unreasonably refuse to accept employment or educational opportunities.
“Sassa is in the process of entering into a memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Public Works as well as the Employment of Labour to facilitate data sharing and exchanges between the parties.”
Another new requirement inserted in the new regulations requires that beneficiaries confirm after every three months whether they still need the grant.
“This is to enable Sassa to pick up changes to the applicant/beneficiary status, which may be missed through only data checks. It will encourage more active engagement between the applicant beneficiary and Sassa using digital platforms. It defaults the client to ‘not requiring the grant’ if they do not re-engage every three months,” he said
Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu told the committee that most South Africans have indicated that they would rather be employed than receive a grant.
Source: News24, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: Daily Voice