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As 2022 draws to a close the #PaytheGrants movement said many people will be experiencing a very bleak Christmas.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) unveiled the findings of the basic income support grant report at the Radisson Hotel in Kempton Park on Tuesday.
Experts and participants deliberated on the findings and the recommendations of the report.
The research on the Expert Panel Report was commissioned by the department, in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
General Alfred Moyo of #PaytheGrant said the basic income grant of R350 is just not enough, is a meagre amount and cannot be stretched.
“We end up spending more on transport while trying to access this R350. This year we are going to have a black Christmas, especially with the fact that most of us have not received the grant from April this year.”
He said women have no source of income and are forced in these abusive relationships.
“We are asking government to help us try to find a solution to this. We are not even sure that panel discussions like these will even be implemented. We have a very distant government that is not in-touch with the needs of the people.”
“If people cannot take care of themselves, the government should intervene. We cannot have people going to sleep on an empty stomach while others eat too much to a point where it kills them,” he said.
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The DSD said it has been a painful year for grant recipients.
The department raised concerns that poverty, inequality and unemployment continue to rise due to the current unfavourable economic climate, which is informed by – amongst others, the recent Covid-19 pandemic, which negatively affected the country and the world.
Acting Director General for the DSD, Linton Mchunu said the poor are in desperate need of assistance.
“It is no longer the time to ask should we, but rather how best can we assist the poor. We need to link grant recipients to more job opportunities. We have people who are educated by receiving grants. Can’t we give them skills and job opportunities.”
“Why can’t we begin to get retailers to help the poor? Why cant they get something beyond the usual? R350 is nothing,” Mchunu said.
The DSD said as the triple challenges persist, it is widely accepted that social protection is an important component of development, for both human and economic development.
“The rising rate of the unemployment, together with, the high uptake of the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) are evidence that there is a gap in the provision of social protection for the working age group of 18 to 59 years.
“This necessitated the Department of Social Development to conduct studies to inform a proposal to extend social assistance for this vulnerable group,” it said.
The report also affirmed that income poverty in South Africa is extremely pervasive.
“More than half of the households live in poverty and the Covid-19 SRD is critical to sustain their livelihoods, the department said.
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