Grant recipients risk queues for Covid relief fund

SOUTH Africans desperate for the Special R350 Covid-19 Relief of Distress payment continue to flock to post offices around Durban.

The packed offices with little or no social distancing, has raised concerns for many onlookers who fear for the safety of recipients who often return home empty handed.

ALSO READ: Never-ending queues at post office are overwhelming

The temporary grant was announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa in April as part of an to assist those in need during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown.

The R350 might sound like a small change for many but for Phezana Mpengwana, who has been unemployed for many years, the R350 is his only means of putting food on the table.

While the South African Post Office spokesperson, Nobuhle Njapha reported that only those who have received an SMS should visit the post office for collection, the 39-year-old father of two said that Monday, 18 January was his date.

ALSO READ: SASSA beneficiaries can now collect grants from their bank

Mpengwana however was told to return the following day.

“I arrived here very early in the morning so I could be closer to the front of the queue and not wait for hours as my health is deteriorating due to various illnesses,” he said.

Although Mpengwana and many other recipients who were queuing outside the New Germany Post Office said they were aware of the seriousness of the pandemic and do fear for their lives, they do not have many options as they do need that money.

“It might not be much but it helps,” he said.

Another recipient, Leonard Garane (53) said he was happy with the system even though he also does fear contracting the virus.

“I arrive here at 6am every pay day and I have not experienced any disappointments, I always go back home with my money,” he said.

The SAPO spokesperson said in post offices where Covid-19 grant were paid, they issue numbers in the morning to ensure that they abide by the regulation of social distancing and encourage recipients to wear face masks at all times.

Njapha said unfortunately some people who have not even received an SMS to collect their grant, join the queue with an aim to check their statuses.

“We have requested through different media platforms that only those that have received an SMS should visit the post office for collection,” explained Njapha.

She added that post office employees are also doing their part of making announcements every few minutes on the numbers that will be paid on the day.

Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting

Dear reader, As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19. Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za). At the time of publication, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.

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