The South African government has brought back the 350 rands (9,800 naira) monthly social relief grant in the wake of the deadly violence and looting two weeks ago. The grant was introduced at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in early 2020 to help cushion the poor against the effects of the lockdown, but withdrawn earlier this year.

Speaking on Sunday night, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country was still coming to grips with the extent of the damage caused during the recent violent unrest, which was triggered by the imprisonment of former president Jacob Zuma but later extended to socio-economic unrest.

More than 300 people died in the violence and thousands arrested.

Ramaphosa said that the N9,800 grant would remain in place until the end of March 2022.

He said the introduction of the grant was made possible by a “slight improvement” in revenue collection.

He added that further recipients who currently receive the child support grant would also be able to apply for the special relief disaster grant.

"No country can expect its economy to grow, or to live in peace and harmony, while many of its citizens remain marginalised, hungry and excluded", said Ramaphosa.

Looted businesses

"We are one of the few countries in the world to have a state-owned insurance company, SASRIA, which provides cover against incidents of public violence, strikes, riots and unrest.

Businesses that are insured will be covered by SASRIA.

SASRIA has committed to expedite the payment of all valid claims, and is working together with private insurers to ensure that assessments are completed without delay.

In addition, however, some businesses that were victims of this violence may not have been insured.

This includes many small and medium-sized businesses, whether formal or informal.

Many of these businesses have lost everything, and will not be able to rebuild on their own.

We will not abandon them in their time of need.

We are therefore working to extend support to uninsured businesses that were affected by the violence.

Government will set aside dedicated funds for this purpose and we will soon announce a mechanism for these businesses to apply for support".


https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-07-25-government-brings-back-r350-social-relief-grant-in-wake-of-looting/

https://www.iol.co.za/news/opinion/sa-moves-to-lockdown-level-3-read-president-cyril-ramaphosas-full-speech-4ba72fde-52f4-4c8d-b398-0149951a4146

They should jollof.
Wish my country can do this

South African government cares for its people

10k.

But when government gives 30k Npower here in Nigeria you all crucify then.

Even with the looting of lives in nigeria by fulani terrorists.making farmers to abandone their farmlands.
Bubu and his goons will never try such.

350 Rands = #9,800

"No country can expect its economy to grow, or to live in peace and harmony, while many of its citizens remain marginalised, hungry and excluded", said Ramaphosa.

South Africans should keep thanking God for giving them a president with a functional brain not a mannerless man we have down here who keeps dividing his country through his utterances, actions and inactions.

BeeBeeOoh:



350 Rands = #9,800

On top of unemployment grant.
Parents earns R450 for each child under the age of 18.

Nigeria is not ripe for independence

zhike:
South African government cares for its people

I was particularly touched by this line from the President:

"No country can expect its economy to grow, or to live in peace and harmony, while many of its citizens remain marginalised, hungry and excluded"

zhike:


On top of unemployment grant.
Parents earns R450 for each child under the age of 18.

That can only happen in a where every of her citizen has equal right not a country where cow is placed above humans..

@TMK your government is trying though they can do better. South African democracy is a progressive one compare to Nigeria. Nigerian government does not give such compensation; even if they try to, one politician will take away the money.

samtol4:
@TMK your government is trying though they can do better. South African democracy is a progressive one compare to Nigeria. Nigerian government does not give such compensation; even if they try to, one politician will take away the money.

I agree with you that they can do better but there's always the concern of creating too much dependency - there are already other grants each poor household receives. On the flip side though, the N9,800 has been found to help people enter the job market by aiding with taxi fare, data or starting small businesses (see attachment below).

Anyway, there's been talk of a monthly basic income grant of R1500 (N42,000) for the unemployed for a while now and the riots will fast track it's implementation judging from recent reports. Now that's proper cash! (see attachment).

@Nigeria
I think you guys need to strengthen your oversight institutions in order for politicians to not be able to steal - they won't decide not to steal from the goodness of their hearts. Corruption also happens in SA but the probability of getting caught and accounting for it is much higher so that acts as a deterrent.

Also some sort of moral regeneration is needed over there coz from what I hear you've become a very individualistic society - every man for themselves type of situation. In SA we believe in Ubuntu as you might know, so we like things to be done in the collective good.

It won't happen overnight, check in SA they government is only now discussing the basic income grant after nearly 30 years of democracy - so u should be patient but very active too as citizens. It took mass rioting and looting in SA for the government to sit up and take notice, and not that it was the first time - this is a weekly occurance in different communities on a smaller scale but this time they were embarrassed on a global stage. Which makes one wonder where this money for grants and business rescues suddenly comes from, because we've been told countless times before the state couldn't afford it.

Anyway, sorry for the long essay, I'm quiet passionate about poverty alleviation and citizen activism. Lol.

Nice

But such stuff sometimes make people lazy and underutilize the economy



Even Putin is frowning