Johannesburg - President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday night announced that the government would be making a special six-month relief grant of R350 to unemployed South Africans.
In his address, Ramaphosa said the special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant would be capped at R350 per month for six months.
“A special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 a month for the next 6 months will be paid to individuals who are currently unemployed and do not receive any other form of social grant or UIF payment,” he announced.
The president said the Minister Lindiwe Zulu’s Department of Social Development would issue the requirements needed to access and apply for the grant in the coming days.
But on Wednesday, social media went on overdrive with the “#R350” trend, as some applauded the government, while others decried the need for the assistance and while others who were armed with certificates, believed they deserved to get a bigger social grant than those with only matric.
Ending his address with a message of hope to South Africans, Ramaphosa said: “Even as we find ourselves at a moment of great peril, even as great sacrifices are demanded, even as we dare not allow our vigilance to waver, we look ahead to a better future.
“I have faith in the strength and resilience of ordinary South Africans, who have proven time and time again – throughout our history – that they can rise to the challenge.
“We shall recover. We shall overcome. We shall prosper. May God bless South Africa and protect her people”.
REACTIONS
There were those who believed they needed a bigger share of the grant than others.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350- this supposed to be R350 for ppl with matric , R700 with diploma , R1000 with degrees & R1500 for us unemployed with honours, masters etc not just generally we all get R350😴😪😏
— Bonny.R (@Bonny1gp)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350
— Jimmy Ramokgopa (@JimmyRamokgopa)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350?
— Tumelo New Africa (@DjNewAfrica)
Others demonstrated how far R350 can go for food.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350can do for you, people should stop complaining from a point of privileges.
10kg mealie meal R70
2l cooking oil R35
5kg rice R60
Pocket of Potatoes R35
Crate of eggs R30
2kg sugar R27
— Solomon Harudzibwi (@S_Harudzibwi)
Others were appreciative and told those complaining not to apply for the grant.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350
If you feel like the R350 is little.. Simply don't apply for it niyeke ukusdina, for someone who don't receive a cent every month, this will mean a lot to them. Y'all so spoilt maan🤮
— IG:@tall_nique_ 🎀 (@Tall_NiQue)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350
If you feel like the R350 is little.. Simply don't apply for it niyeke ukusdina, for someone who don't receive a cent every month, this will mean a lot to them. Y'all so spoilt maan🤮
— IG:@tall_nique_ 🎀 (@Tall_NiQue)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350thanks and appreciation needs to go to all the tax payers. pic.twitter.com/O5GxO7oHa0
— thobanie dube (@ThobanieDube)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/R350?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#R350 #Ramaphosa #day26oflockdown it is enough for you to buy food for a month if you serious about life until everything is back to normal pic.twitter.com/vVw69E3QHV
— 💐Jamela®💐 (@CMasiza)