The failure by the SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) to distribute social grants in April will impact all sectors of the economy, the Pretoria Care for the Aged has said.
The organisation added that the most affected would be the sick, children and the elderly.
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Sassa is the custodian of the social grant funds but uses a third party, currently Cash Paymaster Services (CPS), to distribute the money to beneficiaries.
Two weeks ago, it announced it would file papers with the Constitutional Court for its invalid contract with CPS to be extended for a year.
The contract, entered into in 2012, was declared invalid by the court two years ago. The court also ordered that Sassa reissue the tender to find a distributor of the funds.
Pretoria Care for the Aged spokesperson, Frances Boshoff said because Sassa had failed to reissue the tender or ask the court to condone the invalid contract timeously, its residents, who were dependent on the social grant would go hungry.
“[Already] the number of destitute and hungry people has increased immensely over the past couple of months, many charities, including Pretoria Care for the Aged, cannot supply enough food and basic necessities,” she said.
“The need for shelter and care in Pretoria is massive and the continuous cuts to the NGO sector budgets make it difficult to care for those in need and to continue making a sustainable difference in the lives of the elderly and their communities.
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“Adequate and nutritious food, health, social care and a secure physical environment are critical to protect older- and other vulnerable people from abuse, rain, cold and starvation.
“Sometimes what should be a time to enjoy the last leg of their lives becomes a daily fight for survival for the elderly. Often they see suicide as the only solution.”
The Pretoria Care for the Aged feeds, clothes and looks after the critical medical, mental and spiritual needs of approximately 1 750 people monthly.
“How many of the elderly and other vulnerable person will go hungry tonight? Or abused by their loved ones? How many will commit suicide tomorrow? You can make a difference,” she said.
She said the Pretoria Care for the Aged desperately needed donations – money, non-perishable food, baby food and blankets.
For more information, contact its fundraising office on 072-581-2328 or by email to fundraising@carefortheaged.org.za or via its website.
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