What did Lindiwe Zulu say about R350?

“We are going to be paying back from the time people applied and were approved. The payments will be backdated,” she said. 

Previously, the department said applicants who receive R350 a month or more in financial support from a family member or elsewhere will be disqualified from the grant in the next cycle, as it aims to prioritise those who need it most.

Addressing parliament’s portfolio committee for social development, Zulu said R44bn has been set aside to pay qualifying beneficiaries. 

She said the budget will provide the monthly R350 to 10.5-million people until the end of March next year.

“Aspects of the regulations had to be strengthened to strengthen our fraud prevention and deter those who are not the intended beneficiaries [accessing] this grant,” said Zulu. 

“The department will thus be providing the R350 grant to fewer people in the third iteration than it did in the second iteration.”

On Friday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said payments will resume sometime this week.

What must I take with me?

When going to supermarkets to collect the funds, you must have your ID and the cellphone you registered when applying for the grant because the OTP will be sent to the registered number. 

“All applicants for the grant are encouraged to update their details on the system to have the grant paid into their personal bank account as this is the safest way in which to receive the funds,” the agency said.

Where can I collect my grant?

With the SA Post Office (Sapo) discontinuing payment of the SRD grant, you can collect your grant from Pick n Pay, Boxer, Shoprite, Checkers and USave stores

How will applicants be verified? 

Zulu said the grant type was using data and digital infrastructures to process applications and conduct verifications. 

“Our system for checking whether people deserve this money is in place, hence we ask them to reapply. 

“We are also working with the department of economic development and small and medium-sized enterprises because we believe the next big thing we must focus on is to empower informal businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises,” she said.