The Department of Employment and Labour has expressed its concern over reports of members of the public who visited labour centres in large numbers on Monday, despite the nationwide lockdown.
A Spokesperson for the Department Sabelo Mali says the people descended upon several labour centres in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape, to collect their R350 social grants.
Mali says the Department of labour is only responsible for the payment of Unemployment Insurance (UIF) and occupational injuries and has nothing to do with grants paid by the Department of Social Development.
In the Eastern Cape, large groups of people descended on their offices in Port Elizabeth, East London, Grahamstown Graaff Reinet, Queenstown and in Uitenhage.
Employment and Labour Minister Thulas Nxesi has reiterated that labour centres remain closed for the duration of the Covid-19 nationwide lockdown.
