Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
01 May 2023 | 14:59 CAT

Photo credit: SASSA

The LRC and the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Children’s Institute have designed a booklet, endorsed by SASSA, on the rights of undocumented children to gain access to the child support grant. Cecile van Schalkwyk is on the line this morning to provide.

Attorney at the Legal Resources Centre Makhanda office for eight years, Cecile Van Shalkwyk, discussed the booklet’s needs, regulations and availability with Radio Islam International.

According to Van Schalkwyk, since at least 2008, no regulations have formed part of the South African Social Assistance Act, which set out unregistered children without birth certificates educating them on how to apply to gain access to the SASSA grant.

She said there needs to be more public education in communities on how the process works. In practice, the Legal Resources Centre has found that people need help excessing the grant.

The booklet will inform the public, raising awareness of the process, steps and alternative documentation to provide to SASSA to gain excess.

“The booklet was about creating public awareness about the grant and how to apply for children who do not have a birth certificate or as the parent and caregiver do not have an ID,” says Van Schalkwyk.

Meanwhile, Van Schalkwyk highlighted that SASSA officials on ground levels must be aware of Regulation 13.

She said Regulation 13 allows undocumented children to apply for a SASSA grant. SASSA has supported the publication and will feed the information to their officials at ground level.

The LRC hopes the booklet becomes a source of public education around the law in an application for the SASSA grants for those who need access to a birth certificate or Identity Document.

The booklet is available in the English language. It is in the process of translation into Xhosa, which will be available next month with the preparation of extending into the other official languages. The booklet is accessible on the Legal Resources Centre website.

The LRC is a non-profit, public-interest law clinic that provides legal assistance to people who cannot afford it, specifically within the context of land and education.

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with host Mufti Yusuf Moosagie on Radio Islam’s podcast.