The Ministry of Social Development says it is working with other government agencies to find employment opportunities for South Africans who are still or no longer eligible for the R350 Social Assistance Emergency Grant (SRD).

In a written parliamentary question-and-answer session, Social Development Minister Lindy Wezulu responded that her sector has been allocated a budget capable of absorbing about 10.5 million of her SRD beneficiaries in the fiscal year 2022/23.

But that’s less than the number the grant could have previously helped, and some lawmakers are short of her 500,000, she notes.

Zulu said the State Treasury will allocate additional budget funds to various government departments to create much-needed job opportunities, which her department and Sassa will use to support recipients, she said. said.

• “Currently, Sassa is in the process of establishing a data-sharing relationship with the Departments of Public Works and Infrastructure and Employment and Labour with the goal of assisting Covid-19 SRD recipients to gain access to employment opportunities.
• “Furthermore, the department has finalized a framework on linking social protection beneficiaries to sustainable livelihoods initiatives, with the view to provide skills targeting the unemployed and those on the SRD database to enhance chances of employment,” she said.

“These measures are intended to provide for those who cannot be accommodated through the social grants or the Special Covid-19 SRD Grant and to channel them into more sustainable jobs and other economic activities,” she said.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the duration of South Africa’s R350 Social Emergency Assistance Grant to February 2022. The grant is valid until the end of March 2023.