The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) request caregivers of children whose parents are both deceased or the whereabouts of one of the parents is not known to apply for the Extended Child Support Grant.

SASSA Mpumalanga spokesperson Senzeni Ngubeni said they introduced this grant to circumvent children without parents having to go through the foster care system process purely for reasons of financial support.

“It is an additional amount added to the child support grant for the care giver. In order to qualify for the Extended Child Support Grant the care giver must produce the death certificates for both parents, or death certificate for the primary parent with an affidavit confirming that the whereabouts of the remaining parent are unknown and that he/she plays no role in taking care of the child.

“The current amount of the extended child support grant is R720 which can be paid out in cash on specific days at pay points, or can be paid directly into your bank account.”

For more information contact their customer help desk on 013 754 9439/9428 or toll free number: 0800 60 10 11 from 08:00 to 16:00 during week days Monday to Friday.