KAROO NEWS - Sassa has made R45-million available to be split between districts in the Eastern Cape to provide food parcels for the needy, under their social relief of distress programme.

There has been confusion in local communities as to who is eligible to apply for these parcels, and the demand far outstrips the supply. 

It seemed as though the confusion has not only been amongst the public, but local councillors also found it very difficult to access information regarding the criteria that would be used to determine who should be helped.

Cllr Eldrige Ruiters, who has been assisting ward 1 Cllr Willem Safers to identify those in most need in the ward, had 73 names within a few hours, but was only asked to submit 10. 

"This whole process and the criteria have been very confusing and not known by the poorest, those most affected by this disaster," said Ruiters. "We have seen no transparent formal statement or memo from provincial, district or local governments," he added.

Sassa provincial spokesperson Rev Luzoko Qina told the Advertiser that there are three categories of people that may be eligible. If a person's status as a Sassa beneficiary was being reviewed at the time of lockdown, they might be able to get temporary relief, as well as those who have just reached 60, the age for the older person's grant. 

The third category is those who are unable to work due to the Covid-19 restrictions on movement.

Qina said that the relief will be in the form of a hamper of basic foodstuffs, and that the first wave of distribution had already started in Umtata. He hopes to have reached all areas by 24 April, and then depending on finances, more beneficiaries will be helped.

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