KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape get lion’s share of social aid
Bathabile Dlamini also told MPs her department spent R106m on blankets for the poor in the past three fiscal years
The Department of Social Development has spent a total of R106m on blankets for the poor over the past three years, from 2014-15 to 2016-17. Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by DA social development spokesperson Bridget Masango that the blankets were issued to "deserving beneficiaries" under the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) social relief in distress programme, and "as part of promotional items within communications and marketing". Expenditure on blankets in the latter category amounted to R25m over the past three years. "When blankets are issued as promotional items, they are targeted towards older persons," the minister said. The social relief of distress may be issued in the form of food vouchers, food parcels, school uniforms or cash.
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