Earlier this week, President Cyril Ramaphosa warned African National (ANC) party supporters that social grants and NSFAS (National Student Financial Aid Scheme) may be at risk if the party doesn't stay in government.
Our policies have been pro-poor. I don't know of any other country in the continent that has committed itself to 18 million people who receive grants, young and old, as well as an additional 10 million who get grants of R350
Political analyst, Prof. Andre Duvenhage believes that Ramaphosa made these statements to persuade people to vote for the ANC in the upcoming 2024 elections.
But I have no doubt that Mr Ramaphosa is using this as a mechanism to persuade people to vote for the ANC in government.
Approximately 19 million people are benefiting from permanent social grants from Sassa. In addition to this, a further 9 million people are eligible to benefit from the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. It is also estimated that one million students enrolling at tertiary education institutions will receive comprehensive NSFAS bursaries.
Duvenhage says it's reasonable for people to be concerned about whether they will continue receiving social assistance from the government if a new party is elected to rule South Africa. This is a different political party in power that will have their policies.
It's not always the policy changes that are important; it's also the way you are implementing it … At the end of the day, you have a budget, and you need to make things work within the context of the budget.
Duvenhage contests that the majority of political parties in South Africa have strong democratic and development orientation. This reinforces his belief that there will be social support for poor individuals regardless of which party is in power.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), currently the official opposition to the ANC, disputed Ramaphosa's claims. DA leader John Steenhuisen argued that grants will disappear if alleged ANC corruption continues. The DA also released a detailed plan for a reenvisioned student support system that would change how NSFAS works.
In fact, due to incessant ANC looting, Ramaphosa’s government is already dismantling social grants. The child support grant, which accounts for 71% of all expenditure on grants, has dramatically declined in real terms over the past decade.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has reiterated his call to increase social grants, saying no child or adult can survive and thrive on R350 or R450 per month.
Without a job, many people are condemned to abject poverty. There is no child and no adult who can survive and thrive with R350 or R450 per month, worse in a country with rising costs of living. Not even the dogs of the president survive with R450 per month.
