Johannesburg - Pressue is mounting on the government not to terminate the R350 Covid-19 social relief of distress grant and instead turn it into a permanent basic income grant.
The #PayTheGrants campaign, spearheaded by various civic organisations including Black Sash and the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union, on Thursday announced protest action against the government’s intentions to terminate the grant.
While the grant was due to come to an end on Friday, Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu said she was waiting to hear from the Treasury to indicate if it could be extended.
The #PayTheGrants campaigners maintained in a media briefing that terminating the grant that has assisted thousands of the unemployed would be irrational.
They called for the grant to be increased to R585, which was the food poverty line.
General Alfred Moyo, an activist from Makause informal community in Germiston and #PayTheGrants campaign co-ordinator, told journalists pickets have been organised.
“There will be action in post offices and Sassa offices across the country.
“That should push us and agitate communities for a fight for this grant to be made a permanent basic income grant,” he said.
An online petition campaign linked to #PayTheGrants was approaching 45000 signatures.
Campaigners said the R350 grants made a notable impact on the lives of many, despite being meagre.
Colette Solomon, from the Women on Farms Project, told a media briefing that she gathered from seasonal female farmworkers the grant brought about change in their lives.
The Star