Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said on Monday that the number of recipients for the R350 social relief of distress grant dropped to 7.5 million.
The number of recipients was more than 10.5 million in the previous cycle.
The substantial drop follows a change in the qualification criteria, with applicants having to pass a R624 means test threshold to qualify.
This means applicants can’t earn above the threshold.
Zulu said while the qualification criteria had been tightened, the government remained committed to eradicating poverty.
The R350 grant was introduced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide relief to indigent communities.
“Many of the things that our people talk to us about are issues we are aware of. We just have to make sure that we implement and make sure that our budgets speak to the programmes we have and that our programmes also speak to the challenges that we have.”
-EWN
In other news – Nota Baloyi says Zahara needs a good husband like him
Nota Baloyi slams Zahara’s drunkenness after South Africans accused her of being under the influence of alcohol while performing at the Macufe Divas concert on Friday night.
The singer tried defending herself but failed; she claimed the viral video that sparked the rumors and assumptions was edited. “Don’t edit things to put me down, God is good all the time. Stop this nonsense,” she said. Learn More
