Pre-schools, centres for the aged remain closed

The Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu in a risk-adjustment to lockdown level four progress briefing, said ensuring that vulnerable groups remain protected from the pandemic, remains a priority.

“To this end, we have amended a number of regulations relating to substance abuse treatment centres and halfway houses, child and youth care centres, shelters for victims of crime and gender-based violence, as well as residential facilities for persons with disabilities,” she announced on Monday morning.

With regard to substance abuse treatment centres and halfway houses, the amended directions provide for the release of service users from these facilities upon social workers’ recommendations. The same applies to the release of victims of gender-based violence and that of children in child and youth care facilities. The amendments also provide for the prioritisation of all matters relating to children in conflict with the law.

Early Childhood Development centres will remain closed in level four. The minister said the department will, under level four regulations, monitor and review the decision in consultation with sector role players, to ensure when pre-schools open, it is Covid-19 ready in order to protect children and staff at these facilities.” Provinces should, however, continue to subsidise these centres in order to fulfil their administrative responsibilities and payment of stipends, she said.

“Facilities for older people remain closed during level four due to their vulnerability to Covid-19.  We do, however, encourage all facilities to ensure the implementation of Covid-19 protocols and work with district health teams for continuous screening and testing. With regard to inter-country adoptions, these services are suspended during the state of national disaster,” Zulu said.

The monthly top-up beneficiary amounts from May to October are R250 per month for war veterans, old age pensioners, the disabled (permanent and temporary), the care dependency grant and foster child grant. Child support grants are topped up by R300 and an additional form of social relief of distress will be provided for the period until the end of October 2020 where a caregiver allowance of R500 will be paid each month up to October and a Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress amount of R350 will be paid.

The minister emphasised that the top-up allowances and the additional form of Social Relief of Distress will only be payable for the period May until end of October 2020.

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