2023/24 SRD SCHOOL UNIFORM DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM

UMgungundlovu District Mayor Mr. Mzi Zuma leading distribution of 245 school Uniforms  in Open Gate, Shri Vishnu Primary Schools and ML Sultan Secondary School under uMsunduzi Municipality.

By Abednigo Bangani

• SASSA and the KZN Provincial Executive Council initiated a Back To School Campaign, distributing school uniforms under the Social Relief of Distress program.
• The initiative aligns with the nation-building vision, reflecting the government’s commitment to education and ensuring no child is left behind.
• With a significant budget allocation of R85,418,520 for SRD programs, SASSA has already spent R12,568,500 on the Back to School Campaign, benefiting thousands of learners across four districts in KZN.

Since January 2024, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) joined forces with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Executive Council to embark on a Back To School Campaign through the distribution of school uniforms. This Campaign falls under government’s Social Relief of Distress program (SRD) aimed at assisting the needy and qualifying learners to receive school uniform from the Agency.

The Agency is playing its part in fulfilling the 2030 nation building vision as the former President Nelson Mandela once said “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This uniforms are a tangible demonstration of the government’s efforts in ensuring that no child is left behind.

The total budget allocation of the 2023/24 financial year for all Social Relief of Distress (SRD) programs is R85 418 520 with a top up of R9 715 500. The total amount spent thus far is R55 350 000 for all SRD programs in the province. For the Back to School Campaign only, SASSA has already spent a whopping R12 568 500 for 4655 children across the four SASSA KZN Districts.

Total number of Schools and learners who benefited per District in the 2023/24 financial year: 

• Pietermaritzburg District Office: 
• 107 Schools and 4735 children;
• Midlands District Office: 
• 170 Schools and 4735 children;
• Durban District Office: 
• 74 Schools and 1936 children;
• Ulundi District Office: 
• 301 Schools and 9094 children.

The KwaZulu Natal’s MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma and MEC for Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza were also in attendance to handover uniforms to the children.

“We are investing in the education of our children, as the future prosperity of this province depends largely on education. We must all take an interest in the education of our children, We must say My Child is Your Child, Your Child is My Child,” says MEC Duma

“We deeply understand the challenges faced by parents in providing school uniforms for children and we are here to wipe their tears by restoring dignity of their children. As a caring government, we believe our children must study to become better individuals tomorrow, says MEC Khoza.