In South Africa, there are currently 13.8 million individuals living below the food poverty line, which means they lack sufficient food to meet their daily energy needs. Unfortunately, a supposed “new grant of R999 for Basic Income” that aims to assist these individuals with a higher monetary value has been revealed as a fake.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has issued a public warning stating that there is no New Grant of R999 for Basic Income available. This cautionary statement comes in response to a media outlet publishing an article informing the public about the possibility of applying for such a grant.
Sassa advises its clients to disregard and delete any messages containing this false information, as it did not originate from them. Last week, after becoming aware of this “grant,” Sassa was compelled to release an official statement clarifying the situation.
According to the media outlet’s article titled “Finally New Grant of R999 for Basic Income Introduced,” it implies that Sassa is offering a new grant aimed at helping South Africans. However, this is not accurate.
Grants provided by Sassa
Grants provided by Sassa include various types based on individual circumstances: Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Child Support grant, Grant-in-aid grant, Older Persons grant, Foster care grant, and Care Dependency grant. These grants are distributed on a monthly basis.
Where Did New Grant of R999 for Basic Income Come From?
The source of the R999 grant is attributed to GOOD, a South African political party campaigning in preparation for the 2024 General Elections. As part of their election campaign promises, GOOD plans to implement a comprehensive social security package that includes a basic income grant valued at R999.
GOOD argues that the current SRD (R350) grant does not adequately fulfill citizens’ rights as guaranteed by Section 27 of South Africa’s Constitution. Section 27 guarantees rights such as healthcare access, sufficient food and water supply, and social security encompassing appropriate social assistance.
However, argues GOOD, the current R350 grant falls significantly short of meeting the intended purpose and has not been adjusted in line with inflation since its establishment in 2020. According to the political party, this grant, which is currently the only option available for unemployed adults, does not even meet the food poverty line.
In conclusion, it is essential to be cautious of misleading information regarding grants and to rely on official sources such as Sassa for accurate details.
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