Lerato Masenyetse (47) and her 26-year-old daughter both applied for the COVID-19 Relief Grant. Their applications were rejected. The unemployed mother and daughter claim that their applications were rejected without reasons given to them by the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), the agency responsible for grants.
“Our applications were declined by SASSA. My ID and cell number were all provided. Nothing else was required. And we are both unemployed,” said Masenyetse.
Both mother and daughter are South African citizens. They are above the age of 18, unemployed and not receiving any form of income. They also do not receive any social grant or the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) or stipends from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or any other financial support. Moreover, both are not residents of government funded or subsidised institutions.
“We don’t have any source of income but our application was rejected. The R350 COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant was established to help jobless South Africans during the current coronavirus pandemic.” said Masenyetse.
Masenyetse said they first applied for food parcels in April 2020 (about four months ago), with no success from SASSA. Again they were rejected for the COVID-19 Relief Grant by SASSA.
“We appeal the decision of SASSA and hope they will give us a positive response this time.” She said.
“In order to qualify for the grant, applicants need to be unemployed, over the age of 18 and not receiving any income, funding, social grants, or UIF payment. For one to qualify for the COVID-19 grant, they must either be unemployed without any kind of income, not receiving any kind of government assistance such as UIF, NSFAS, social grants or any other financial support” said SASSA CEO Ms Busisiwe Memela-Khambula. SASSA further stated that it aims to continue working hard to ensure that those who qualify for the grants get what is due to them.
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