Question NW3107 to the Minister of Social Development
24 November 2023 - NW3107
van der Merwe, Ms LL to ask the Minister of Social Development
What (a) total amount in Rand of the social relief of distress grants has been returned to the National Treasury in the past financial year and (b) are the reasons that monies meant to alleviate distress did not reach beneficiaries?
Reply:
a) An amount of R4.3 billion was returned to the National Treasury due to the lower than expected up take of the SRD Grant.
b) All applicants for the SRD Grant are assessed on a monthly basis. When their financial situation improves and no longer meet the eligibility criteria or they voluntarily stop applying for the grant, there are significant savings on the fiscus. On average, SASSA pays the SRD Grant to over 8, 5 million eligible applicants every month.