Minister of Social Development Engages with Black Sash: Addressing Urgent Issues in Social Grant Administration

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By Precious Mupenzi

In a pivotal meeting held today in Pretoria, the Minister of Social Development, Sisisi Tolashe, met with representatives from Black Sash, a prominent advocacy organisation, to discuss pressing challenges in the administration of social grants. This meeting, regarded as long overdue, follows a request from Black Sash for dialogue with the Minister, underscoring a shared commitment to improving the lives of South African citizens.

Minister Tolashe, who highlighted her background as a trained paralegal and former student of Black Sash, opened the meeting with remarks on the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) mandate. She acknowledged the crucial role non-profit organisations play as service delivery partners to the government, reiterating their significance during her Budget Vote 2024 address.

Black Sash welcomed the Minister’s engagement and expressed the organisation’s readiness to collaborate on shared objectives. Rachel Bukasa, Director of Black Sash, stressed, “The situation has escalated to legal action due to ongoing frustrations with the social grant payment system. Despite consultations with six different administrations within DSD and a two-year-old legal opinion intended to foster good faith engagement, we have yet to see tangible outcomes.”

The meeting brought to light alarming issues affecting beneficiaries, particularly in rural and peri-rural communities. Black Sash representatives detailed challenges such as the non-payment of grants and technical glitches, which have left many beneficiaries stranded without access to their funds. They recounted stories of individuals returning home empty-handed and emphasised that the grant verification process lacks transparency, leaving beneficiaries uninformed and deprived of dignity.

Concerns were also raised about Post Bank’s capacity to manage social grant payments effectively. Beneficiaries reported confusion over the rollout of new Post Bank cards, and the closure of Post Bank branches on weekends has exacerbated frustrations. Black Sash further highlighted the financial strain on beneficiaries, noting that travel costs to access grants can reach R200, a significant burden for those reliant on social support.

In response to these concerns, Minister Tolashe committed to reconvene within 21 days to provide feedback on the issues raised. She also announced the formation of a Task Team dedicated to investigating the matters and working towards viable solutions.

The meeting concluded with hope for constructive engagement between the DSD and Black Sash, as both parties recognised the urgent need to prioritise the welfare of South African citizens dependent on social grants. This collaborative effort aims to ensure that beneficiaries receive the support they need in a timely and dignified manner.

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