'There's no way R350 Covid-19 grant can turn into the potential of a livelihood'

NGO coordinator Mervyn Abrahams says the special coronavirus grant of R350 a month will not be enough to help the unemployed get by.

Abrahams, the programme co-ordinator at the Economic Justice and Dignity Group, says the R350 works out to just over R11 per day for the month, which is the equivalent of a loaf of brown bread.

The special Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant will go to those who are unemployed and do not receive any other social grant or UIF payment.

Abrahams says the grant is meant to help millions of unemployed people who need to create a livelihood for themselves.

But this is not possible for R350 per month.

RELATED: System needed to ensure coronavirus grant reaches the right hands - Lindiwe Zulu

Essentially, it means that there can be an extra loaf of brown bread coming into a household every day.

Mervyn Abrahams, Coordinator - Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group

It's very low and people will not be able to live off it... It's a missed opportunity.

Mervyn Abrahams, Coordinator - Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group

For R350 a month, for six months, there's no way you can turn that money into the potential of a livelihood.

Mervyn Abrahams, Coordinator - Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group

Listen to the discussion on Afternoon Drive with John Maytham:

More from Covid-19 coronavirus explained