All grants paid to public servants, except foster grants, will be removed: social development minister Lindiwe Zulu

17 September 2021 - 11:11
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu says 11,479 public servants receive old age grants, 6,098 receive disability grants and 4,639 receive care dependency grants. File photo.
Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu says 11,479 public servants receive old age grants, 6,098 receive disability grants and 4,639 receive care dependency grants. File photo.
Image: Linda Mthombeni

Arrangements are being made to suspend all social grants, except foster child grants, received by public servants, said social development minister Lindiwe Zulu.

Zulu made the announcement in a reply to a parliamentary question in which she indicated 177,108 public servants were paid grants totalling R200m in July this year.

Most recipients (143,081) received the child support grant, costing the government R122m, and 11,589 received foster care grants worth R20.7m.

In the figures supplied by Zulu:

  • 11,479 public servants received old age grants;
  • 6,098 received disability grants; and
  • 4,639 received care dependency grants.

Zulu said public servants are entitled to receive the foster child grant.

“Where the foster child grant is paid in conjunction with a care dependency grant for the same child, neither are means-tested, and public servants would not be contravening any laws by receiving these grants,” she said in her reply to a parliamentary questions posed by DA MP Mimmy Gondwe.

Zulu said for the other grant types, the means test would need to be applied.

“Since the information has been extracted, arrangements have been made to suspend the grants, apart from the foster child grants, for all public servants.

“Those who still qualify will have to come in and review the grant, and provide current information on their income to determine whether they still qualify to receive the grants.”

The minister added that measures will be taken to recover any funds overpaid.

“Where it is found public servants were receiving a grant to which they were not entitled, the matter will be reported to their employing department for disciplinary action to be taken.”

TimesLIVE


subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now