President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the R350 Covid-19 Unemployment Insurance Fund Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) benefit will be extended to March 15, after months of discussions and debate over continued social and economic relief, aimed at the unemployed.

The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) has processed in excess of 9.6-million applications between May 2020 and January 2021, and has paid more than 6.5-million grants per month. The total amount spent on this grant, to date, has exceeded R16-billion.

At least 15-million people have applied for the grant.

“Over the last few months, we have had ongoing discussions with our social partners in business, labour and community-based organizations, who proposed an extension of some of the social and economic support. We have, therefore, decided to extend the period for the Special Covid-19 Grant of R350 by a further three months,” Ramaphosa stated.

He said the TERS benefits had proven to be an effective and efficient short-term measure to reduce the immediate impact on the livelihoods of poor South Africans.

Government will consult with social partners at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) before announcing the conditions of the extension and the included sectors.

“The conditions of this extension and the sectors to be included will be announced after consultations with social partners at Nedlac,” Ramaphosa said.

Treasury will also work with partners and stakeholders on improvements to the Loan Guarantee Scheme to help small, medium-sized and microenterprises and other businesses as they strive to recover from the effects of the pandemic.

“As we rebuild our economy in the midst of a pandemic, it is necessary that we continue – within our means – to provide support to those businesses and individuals that continue to be most affected. Businesses, in several sectors, are still struggling and many families continue to suffer as the job market slowly recovers,” Ramaphosa noted.

Sassa said in a statement on Friday said that there was no need for potential applicants to go to a Sassa office: amendments of applications can be made at https://srd.sassa.gov.za

"Those persons already who have received this grant are in the system so there is no need to re-apply. All clients who have been paid through the post office should get bank accounts, and upload those details on the system," the agency said.

Sassa further wrote that every application would be validated monthly, and if approved, will be paid.

The department further stated clients whose applications for the benefit were declined, can lodge an appeal for review on the Sassa Covid-19 portal: https://srd.sassa.gov.za  Declined applicants who have already lodged appeals need not re-apply nor re-appeal.

“We reassure citizens who had their Special Covid Grant of R350 approved but not yet paid by the end of January will still be paid through the existing payment channels, namely the South African Post Office, direct deposits into bank accounts or money transfers to cell phones, as requested by the approved applicants," Sassa stated.