[ Home ]
[ Speeches & statements ]
R2 BILLION TO BE DISBURSED AS GRANTS AND MINISTER CALLS ON PUBLIC TO HELP
The Government will from today (3 June 2002) disburse R2 billion to approximately 1,9 million beneficiaries as grants. Making this announcement the Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, has appealed to all members of society to help ensure that the money reaches the beneficiaries.
"This is one of the most significant delivery of government aimed at alleviation poverty, removing injustices and ensuring the improvement of conditions of life of the poorest of the poor. We appeal on all members of the public to assist in ensuring that all the eligible beneficiaries do actually get the grant and that any fraudulent attempts are exposed and dealt with accordingly. We call specifically on faith-based organisations, the business community, labour, non-governmental organisations, civil society structures and particularly the youth to join hand with us in this campaign," said the Minister.
This disbursement is a realisation of President Thabo Mbeki's commitment during his State of the Nation Address earlier this year. The money will be disbursed in grant types starting with the Child Support Grant (CSG) and followed by the other grants: Old Age Grants, War Veterans, Disability Grant, Care Dependence, Foster Care and Grant in Aid.
"We are beginning with the children as they are the worst affected by poverty but most importantly as part of our commitment to put children first in all our programmes, especially this year," Dr Skweyiya said.
The disbursement will take place in the provinces between June and August. The allocation of the Child Support Grant is:
SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEMS - CHILD SUPPORT GRANTS BACK PAY STATISTICS: JUNE 2002
Grants Amounts: Total Payment
Western Cape - 114,453: 20,714,273
Eastern Cape - 209,542: 64,087,888
Northern Cape - 12,282: 3,122,888
Free State - 88,836: 18,669,876
KwaZulu-Natal - 210,439: 51,020,896
North West - 70,624: 16,188,649
Gauteng - 148,056: 31,400,656
Mpumalanga - 68,242: 19,862,343
Limpopo - 211,321: 135,058,722
TOTAL - 1,133,795: 360,126,191
The Old Age, War Veterans and Grants-in-Aid will follow in July 2002 and followed in August by the Disability, Care Dependence, Foster Care and Grant-in-Aids.
Enquiries: Mbulelo Musi at 082 904 3395
Issued by: Ministry of Social Development, 3 June 2002