OPINION: Sassa’s disability grants empower lives, ensuring dignity, inclusion, and a lifeline for thousands across the Northern Cape, writes Lungelo Mkamba.
By Lungelo Mkamba
AS SOUTH Africa commemorates Disability Rights Awareness Month (DRAM) from November 3 to December 3, the disability grant administered by the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) continues to alleviate poverty for thousands of beneficiaries.
One such beneficiary is Ms Mary van Wyk, who has been receiving a disability grant from Sassa in the Northern Cape since 2023.
“The grant helps in many aspects of my life, including my basic food needs and medication for my illness. All I want to say to Sassa is thank you very much for the grant, as it truly impacts our daily lives at home,” she shared.
Mitchell Bester, also from Kimberley in the Northern Cape, emphasised how the disability grant supports both herself and her daughter. “The grant came at the perfect time when I lost my job due to my medical condition, and it has been a significant financial help,” she explained.
As we celebrate this year’s DRAM, the stories of Bester and Van Wyk highlight the critical role of Sassa’s disability grant in alleviating poverty and providing vital social relief. These two women are part of the 54,315 beneficiaries who received a total of R118,406,700 from Sassa in the Northern Cape between April and June 2024. In the second quarter, from July to September 2024, Sassa disbursed another R117,116,140 to 53,723 disability Grant beneficiaries.
This year’s DRAM commemoration is observed under the theme: “Celebrating 30 Years of Democracy: Creating a Disability-Inclusive Society for a Better Quality of Life and Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” The theme encapsulates South Africa’s commemoration of 30 years of freedom and democracy, marking this year’s DRAM as an important juncture for collective reflection on how we have empowered and assisted people living with disabilities.
One of the most significant social security benefits for those with impairments is the Sassa disability grant. According to the 30-Year Review Report on South Africa’s Democracy, social grants have been a successful strategy for reducing poverty. The report reveals that disability grant recipients increased from 804,249 in 1997 to 1,035,437 in 2023.
Individuals with physical or mental impairments that prevent them from working for more than six months can apply for a disability grant at their local Sassa office. Applicants must provide a medical assessment report detailing the impact of their disability and must be aged between 18 and 59. Additionally, applicants must meet specific means testing criteria, which also applies to any spouse if married. The full requirements are available at www.sassa.gov.za, any Sassa local office, or by calling the toll-free number 0800 60 10 11.
The disability grant is essential for recipients to overcome obstacles that could prevent them from leading independent and dignified lives, especially considering that in 2022 at least 3.3 million individuals were identified by Statistics South Africa as living with disabilities. For the millions of South Africans who struggle daily due to physical, sensory, or intellectual disabilities, the disability grants are a lifeline.
Due to prejudice, a lack of work prospects, and additional expenses for their care or specific requirements, people with disabilities are more likely to face financial difficulties. Consequently, Sassa’s disability grant is crucial for closing this gap by giving applicants the means to cover their essential expenses.
Over and above financial security, disability grants are essential for fostering social inclusion. By guaranteeing that people living with disabilities have access to the same fundamental necessities and opportunities as their peers without impairments, they contribute to levelling the playing field. The stigma and isolation experienced by people living with disabilities are lessened due to this support. By providing relief, the government ensures that individuals living with disabilities are not left behind.
Disability grants also serve as a vital instrument for advancing equality, lowering poverty, and empowering people living with disabilities. By acknowledging the significance of these disability grants and ensuring they reach those in need, Sassa is promoting and contributing towards long-term social and economic inclusion in addition to offering immediate assistance.
During DRAM 2024 and beyond, let us all play an active role in advocating the interests and inclusion of people living with disabilities in all spheres of the economy and society.
For more information on grants-related queries, beneficiaries can call the national Sassa toll-free number 0800 60 10 11.
* Lungelo Mkamba is the spokesperson for Sassa in the Northern Cape
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