What is Refugees
Who is Asylum Seekers
An asylum seeker is a person who leaves their country of residence, enters another country, and makes in that other country a formal application for the right of asylum according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 14.
How Much Do Refugees and Asylum Seekers Receive?
The SA Social Security Agency (Sassa) has paid R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grants to 4,102 refugees and 15,258 asylum seekers since the introduction of the grant.
Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu revealed the figures in a response to a written parliamentary question from EFF MP Laetitia Heloise Arries.
The SRD grant is meant for South African citizens, refugees, asylum seekers and special permit holders between the ages of 18 and 60.
Zulu said Sassa paid out a total of R34,456,800 to refugees and R63,113,750 to asylum seekers.
“Figures are as of September. The figure varies from month to month depending on the approvals,” Zulu said.
Number of appeals for grants
According to Zulu, the Independent Tribunal for Social Assistance (ITSAA) received 3,595,147 R350 grant appeals for the period April to July.
“The Independent Tribunal has adjudicated all appeals received against the Covid-19 SRD applications declined by Sassa for the month of June,” she said.
“The appeals were recorded for April, May, June and July totalling 1,165,369, 1,297,776, 516,442 and 588,401, respectively. Some appeals related to the month of June, the 90-day period expired during the first week of October.
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FAQ
How much is the SRD grant now?
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant – popularly known as the R350 grant – is expected to be raised to R370 from April this year.
