Claims of grants for 19 - 59 year olds by 2017 untrue‚ says department

11 May, 2016 17:25

Bathabile Dlamini, minister of The Department of Social Development
Image by: Gallo Images / City Press / Elizabeth Sejake

The Department of Social Development has rubbished media reports that unemployed South Africans between the ages of 19 and 59 will start receiving social grants in 2017.

“This claim is false. The Department has not made any pronouncement to this effect‚” the department said in a statement.

It said Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan in his budget speech had committed government to releasing the discussion paper on comprehensive social security reforms by mid-year.

“Government has examined many international good practices‚ with a view to move to a new social security dispensation in our country. This will ensure that we achieve adequate social security coverage for all within reasonable cost constraints.

“Milestones in this process will be communicated by government in due course‚” the department said.