Youth make upthe largest number, 60% of recipients of the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350.
This is according to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa), which also revealed that a mere 5% hold tertiary qualifications.
- Paseka Letsatsi, spokesperson, said statistics correlated with the unemployment rate among the youth, which pertains to approximately 63%.
He said the information being spread that 60% of youth had tertiary qualifications was factually incorrect.
The number of those depending on state grants in the Free State is indeed currently standing at 586 165.
The high rate of unemployment among the youth is a great cause for concern, and the agency has expressed its commitment to continuously playing its part in fighting this scourge.
After months of dealing withSassa having to investigate appeals, as well as handle verification and reconsideration processes with regards to the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant, about 5 298 817 applications were approved as of 19 July.
Of these, 4 088 873 applicants have received payment.
According to the agency, the number of those paid is expected to increase to a million from approximately 750 000.
