Question NW789 to the Minister of Social Development
17 April 2024 - NW789
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Social Development
Whether, with reference to the reply of the Minister of Basic Education to written questions 3452 on 8 November 2023, her department and/or the SA Social Security Agency determined the cost of extending the child support grant to the learners who have aged out of the grant with the assumption that all learners complete their matric year; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
No. It is important to note that the Social Assistance legislation only provides for receipt of the CSG up to the month in which the child turns 18. However, the same beneficiaries would be eligible to apply for COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant.
In addition, through the National Integration Social Protection System (NISPIS) programme, DSD links CSG beneficiaries to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), should they wish to pursue their education at institutions of higher learning and they are exempted from NSFAS means test.
Furthermore, government provides for other support services to ensure that vulnerable children complete their education such as no fee schools in poor communities, school nutrition programmes, free primary health care at public facilities, free basic services, and subsidised housing for poor households. A combination of social protection interventions create powerful opportunities to multiply the impact of children’s grants in achieving comprehensive social and economic developments through integration to additional services.