Sassa reviving food relief programme
Instead of food parcels, the agency is providing vouchers to needy families
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) says it is working to revive its food relief programme which was disrupted by last week’s unrest.
Instead of food parcels, the agency is providing vouchers to needy families as part of the social relief of distress programme.
‘They are redeemable at selected service providers, however, in KZN these service providers had their food stocks looted and infrastructure vandalised, thereby halting this kind of service in that province,’ said Sassa CEO Busisiwe Memela-Khambula.
‘This has worsened the situation of vulnerable and needy families who don’t have a means of income and rely on government interventions.’
To qualify for the relief, Memela-Khambula said an application, supported by documentary evidence, is required for each person requiring support.
‘The criteria states that if you are already in receipt of a grant, you don’t qualify for social relief of distress.
‘A fake poster is circulating on social media claiming that you can apply for social relief of distress electronically, which is not true because in order to apply, you have to visit a Sassa office,’ she said.
