The civil society organisation, #PayTheGrants, believes that a basic income grant of R1 500 will help unemployed individuals cover the basic cost of living. Elizabeth Raiters, a coordinator at the organization, said that this income grant will ensure that people are able to put food on the table for the whole month.
#PayTheGrants is not the only organization which has requested a basic income grant from Sassa, Black Sash has also urged the agency for this grant. Both organizations have been in constant contact with the agency and the department to ensure the implementation of the grant.
Previous, the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) stated that there may be an increase in the Covid-19 grant from R350 to R600. However, Raiters does not believe R600 will be enough, especially as the price of groceries and other living expenses have increased.
According to experts, a basic income grant and any type of Sassa grant increase will mean an increase in tax paid by South Africans who are able to afford a better life. However, as many know introducing a basic income grant will be very beneficial in eliminating poverty in the country. Which will be worth paying extra tax.
While implementing a basic income grant will benefit citizens of the country, many are wondering if Sassa and the Department of Social Development will be able to afford it. Especially since the agency has been struggling to provide members of the country with the current R350 grant.
For two months, more than two million SRD grant beneficiaries have not received their payments due to backlogs and retail stores not being able to provide these funds. The organization urges the agency and department to solve these issues right away so that beneficiaries can receive the payments they desperately need.
‘Some caregivers can't even support their kids because the only money they have is the caregiver’s grant,’ said Raiters.
Caregivers, who have applied for the SRD grant, have been denied the chance to receive the grant since they have already obtained a Child Support grant. However, according to the department, these caregivers should be able to receive the SRD grant as well.
