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[ADVOCACY] SERI supports the call for the extension and increase of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant (4 February 2021).
On 28 January 2021, SERI’s Alana Potter joined a press conference for the #PayTheGrants Campaign calling for the extension and increase of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grants to at least R585-00 in line with the food poverty line. The press conference was hosted by Black Sash, C19 People’s Coalition Cash Transfers Working Group and the Institute of Economic Justice (IEJ). Potter spoke alongside affected grant claimants, Zwelinzima Vavi, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, and social justice activists.
The #PayTheGrants Campaign joint statement calls for:
The #PayTheGrants campaign for the extension and increase of the Social Relief of Distress grant has been signed by more than 180 civil society organisations and makes the following demands:
Extension and increase of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant (SRD) to at least the food poverty line of R585 per person per month;
Unduly harsh and narrow criteria for accessing the grant to be reassessed;
Inclusion of caregivers for the SRD grant regardless of whether they are receiving a child support grant on behalf of their children; and
Urgent progress towards implementation of the long overdue Basic Income Guarantee (grant).
Towards a People’s Vaccine Campaign: A call to action
15 Jan 2021
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The Covid-19 pandemic is wreaking havoc millions in South Africa and globally are being infected and dying. Vaccinating a significant part of the population is the only realistic way to defeat the pandemic. Achieving this will require international co-operation and solidarity. Unity in action across all sectors of our society is now paramount. We need vigilance and solidarity to slow the rate of infection and to unburden health facilities. The reported acquisition of 1.5 million doses of C-19 vaccines for frontline healthcare workers is welcomed, but this must be the start of urgently acquiring millions more. An estimated 40 to 80 million doses will be needed, along with a massive roll-out effort to achieve herd immunity. This cannot be done by the government alone. We, the people, especially the millions of poor and working-class people, must be central to this effort.