The Minister of Social Development in South Africa, Lindiwe Zulu, has expressed concern about the low participation rate in the Child Support Grant (CSG) Top-Up program. The CSG Top-Up was introduced in June 2022 to provide additional support for orphaned children and address Foster Care backlogs. The Minister emphasized the importance of registering more beneficiaries for the grant and announced that a nationwide multi-media communication campaign will be launched to increase awareness.
Sassa Grant Should Benefit More People According to the Minister Lindiwe Zulu
The CSG Top-Up is an extension of the existing child support grant, offering an additional amount of R240, bringing the total monthly grant per child to R720. Caregivers, including grandparents, siblings, uncles, aunts, or cousins, who are responsible for orphaned children, have been encouraged to apply for the grant. The application process is accessible at Sassa offices throughout the country, without the need for a social worker’s report or court order, except in cases where the child lives in a child-headed household.
Minister Zulu called on individuals, faith organizations, and community-based groups to register eligible children for the CSG Top-Up, and urged government members to spread the message widely. The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) aims to identify and provide benefits to children under one year of age, ensuring their inclusion in the program.
The National Department of Social Development has been allocated a budget of R263 billion for the 2023/24 financial year. This funding will support various social development programs and initiatives aimed at assisting vulnerable individuals and communities across the country.
