Bridget Masango

Dear MyPE The South African Social Security Agency’s (SASSA) recent admission that it does not have enough money to reinstate and extend the temporary disability grants that lapsed at the end of December is a massive cause for concern. According to SASSA’s executive manager responsible for grants administration, Dianne Dunkerley, the Agency only has R411 million of the R1.2 billion needed to extend the grant payments. SASSA’s problem to continue to extend disability grant payments is one … [Read more...] about Urgent clarity sought from SASSA on lack of funding for disability grants

Dear MyPE An answer to a written parliamentary question from the Democratic Alliance (DA) has revealed that 31% of South Africans rely on grants every month to make ends meet. The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, divulged that more than 18 million people receive some form of grant payment, a massive increase from the mere 7% that received grants in 1996 – when this data was first recorded on a national level. For many households grant payments have replaced salaries as … [Read more...] about One Third of South Africans Rely on Grants

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls out the Department of Social Development (DSD) on its shameful excuses for dropping the ball on our most vulnerable in society. A reply to a parliamentary question posed by the DA, uncovered that government failed to meet its financial obligations, with 0% of child and youth care centers receiving funds in the second quarter in the North West. For old age homes, some communities were left out to dry, with Limpopo only receiving 57% of funds in the … [Read more...] about Government’s 0% funding to old age homes and youth centres

Dear MyPE While the Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes yesterday’s announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant of R350 would be extended for another three months - the reality is that the previous seven months of this grant has been a complete mess. There is little doubt that the intention behind the grant was laudable, however, the implementation was chaotic from the start. Potential beneficiaries had to wait for months to find … [Read more...] about R350 grant extension: Will SASSA leave millions in the lurch again?

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to once and for all sort out the chaos that persist at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA). It is almost unbelievable that SASSA still has not managed to sort out the perpetual mess with the payment of the Special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distressed (SRD) grant of R350. They’ve had six months to work out the kinks. The DA has again been inundated with complaints from SRD … [Read more...] about SASSA once again in chaos over August R350 grant payments

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) has learned that the previous Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, spent more than R2.5 million for a technical task team to review the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) business model and make recommendations in reforming how SASSA made its cash payments. In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, the Department of Social Development (DSD) said that it paid six technical advisers a total of R2 534 831,05 between May and … [Read more...] about 6 Months of lockdown and thousands still waiting for answers from SASSA over R350 grant

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled by reports that the Department of Social Development (DSD) has failed to pay thousands of organisations that do social work on behalf of Government in several provinces in South Africa, and call on the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, to ensure that the situation is rectified immediately. We will also submit parliamentary questions to interrogate the root cause of this travesty. These organisations service the most … [Read more...] about DSD urgently need to pay old age and children’s homes

Open Letter to President Ramaphosa from Bridget Masango MP - DA Shadow Minister of Social Development Dear Mr President The Covid-19 pandemic caught the entire globe by surprise, and despite this, South Africans willingly joined the fight back in March. The pandemic has had severe effects on the populations of the world – economic collapse, hunger, and poverty have been exacerbated in countries already struggling with internal issues such as inequality, high unemployment rates, … [Read more...] about It’s time to fire Minister Zulu

Dear MyPE The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, will deliver her Executive statement regarding the special Covid-19 relief of distress grant of R350 before Parliament on Thursday, 30 July 2020. The Democratic Alliance (DA) called for the Minister to give account of her Department’s abysmal handling of the payment of these grants on 9 June 2020 and is happy at the opportunity to hold the Minister to account. Minister Zulu should make the most of this opportunity, and use … [Read more...] about About that R350 Minister Zulu?

Dear MyPE The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu, must give clear timelines on when and how the new review process for the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 will come into fruition to avoid the confusion that has muddied the payment of these grants thus far. On Tuesday, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) indicated that another database for rejected applications will be brought on board to review those applications that didn’t meet the relevant … [Read more...] about Clear timelines required on SASSA’s new database for rejected Special Covid-19 R350 grant

Dear MyPE The Democratic Alliance (DA) is appalled, disappointed, but not surprised, by the failure of the Department of Social Development (DSD) that led to the backlog in the South African foster care system. The DSD this week made a presentation to the Portfolio Committee on Social Development about the state of the foster care system, where the crucial question was the backlog of foster care orders. It was revealed that by November 2019, there will be over 128 00 orders that will … [Read more...] about Resolve the impending crisis in the Foster Care system Minister Zulu

Dear MyPE DA councillors in rural Eastern Cape have reported disturbing information of how people living in extreme poverty have to wait between 3 and 4 months to receive vital emergency food parcels from SASSA. The Department of Social Development (DSD) is tasked with providing emergency food parcels to people living in extreme poverty, who have applied for a social grant but have to wait before receiving their first grant payment. The Social Relief Assistance is often the only source … [Read more...] about South Africans starve for 3 months waiting for SASSA emergency relief food packages