Today, when social grant or SASSA payments were distributed to elderly and disabled people in centers across the country, thousands of people gathered in queues, sometimes in crowds, not adhering to social distancing rules. We gathered at.
Numerous posts on social media showed long lines of people waiting for social grants, often standing shoulder to shoulder. However, in some centers payments were made in an orderly manner and people kept a distance of one meter. Approximately 11 million people have received SASSA payments.
Comments on social media expressed shock that elderly and vulnerable people were allowed to gather so close to each other during the coronavirus pandemic.
“There are queues outside the post office, social distancing is not being practiced, SAPS has no authority to enforce it, people are not covering their noses and mouths with masks, handkerchiefs etc… It's scary.” Tweeted.
The Minister of Social Development had announced that payments would be made earlier than usual on March 30 and 31 due to the lockdown.
There are long queues across SA as people wait for their social grant payments.
Sassa's grants feed millions of people. pic.twitter.com/NmgSCp2hLX
— Entrepreneur Zone (@SayEntrepreneur) March 30, 2020
Elderly and infirm people are left to fend for themselves, queuing for SASSA grants from 4am at Mtwalme Thatton Boxer in KZN. pic.twitter.com/c1Pkyfsybc
— Champion look (@ZwangaMukhuthu) March 30, 2020
CCTV footage of crowds of people rushing to Mega Philani Mall in Umlazi, south of Durban, to get to the SASSA pay point to collect their subsidy. @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/b7a8X7rEGX
— Orrin Shin (@orrin417) March 30, 2020
Minister Lindiwe Zulu, SASSA CEO Tootsie Memela, Acting MEC Panyaza Lesufi and Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams visit SASSA pay points around Gauteng to help protect against COVID-19. It confirmed that precautionary measures were taken to protect beneficiaries.
Public transport regulations during lockdown have been amended to accommodate SASSA beneficiaries.
