This follows cash shortages around the country, causing panic and anxiety amongst recipients.
The hardest hit were in rural areas.
Addressing media as part of Covid-19 Task Team, minister of Social department Lindiwe Zulu said they’ve asked for help and interventions from all stakeholders to make sure grants are received by all recipients at pay-points.
“We’re happy to report all is above board and SASSA will issue out grants as per the norm.
There was agitation by members of the society and as such would like to report that all is sorted though, at times the unfortunate does happen,” says Zulu, who went to confirm all the disabled and pensioners will receive their grants.
On Monday some of the Gogos and Mkhulus complaint of not receiving their grants countrywide.
On food parcels the minister said they would like to offer thanks to NGOs for having availed themselves at such critical times.
She also called on provincial NGOs to help the locals where possible.
On whether her department and health were considering erecting testing stations at pay-points, Zulu said they’ve never had such discussions.
She also sent messages of condolences to the family of an elderly woman who died in a queue to access her grant in Soweto on Monday.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng government has deployed a team of health workers to the Stjwetla information settlement to test people for COVID-19.
This after one of the residents of tested positive for coronavirus.
The man left Gauteng while waiting for his results ignoring instructions from officials but has since been located and quarantined in Limpopo.
Health officials are hard at work here at the Stjwetla informal settlement in Alexandra testing neighbours of the man who tested positive for COVID-19.
People in the settlement seemed to be cooperating.
The infected individual had been staying with a group of nine people who have now been quarantined.
Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku explained how the process is unfolding.
“It will give us a sense of relief if it comes out negative but if it comes out positive, then we will need to do a contaminatory approach.”
Stjwetla is one of the densely populated settlements in the province with residents sharing chemical toilets and shacks built very close to one another, making social distancing a major challenge.
Image (Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu).
