TimesLIVE reports that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has demanded action from the Department of Social Development (DSD) as it investigates public servants earning full salaries who applied for the special R350 Covid-19 relief grant.

The DSD indicated in a reply to a parliamentary question that nearly R85,000 was paid to 241 state employees in May last year after they were approved for the grant. According to the DA, no action has been taken to recover the money. Deputy social development minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu’s response also advised that, as of the end of February this year, 39,672 government employees had applied for the grant. Some of the government employees allegedly submitted applications to test the system or to assist applicants to apply as all applications were submitted electronically. No disciplinary or legal steps have been taken against any of them because investigations have not yet been concluded. Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu advised that the Social Security Agency of SA (Sassa) would recommend disciplinary action and recover the money. Meantime, a new system has been put in place to stop public servants from being able to receive the grant. “Decisive disciplinary and legal action must be taken. The SRD (special relief) grant is intended solely for the most vulnerable and distressed members of our society and should not be open to abuse by public service employees who are drawing a monthly salary,” DA shadow deputy minister of social development, Dr Mimmy Gondwe complained.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Belinda Pheto at TimesLIVE
• Read too, Government employees tried to fleece R350 grants, at Independent Media

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