Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his decision to extend the social grant for another year, until March 2024.
In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa said the grant had helped so many South Africans and would continue to help others who had not received support in the past.
The president said the extension of the social grant was not an indication that more people needed grants now than before.
He said in the past, many of the poor, including working-age adults who were unemployed, simply did not receive any support.
“In 1999 just over 2.5 million people were receiving social grants. Today that number has increased to over 18 million people.
“In addition, more than two million indigent households also receive free basic water, basic electricity and solid waste removal services as part of this government’s commitment to free basic services for the poor,” Ramaphosa said.
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The Social Relief of Distress Grant that was introduced in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic has reached more than 11 million people at its peak, and has lifted millions of people out of food poverty. According to research approximately, he said.
According to research, approximately 50% of the purchases made by SRD grant recipients were for groceries.
“Social grants also act as a stimulus for the economy as a whole, increase spending in townships and rural areas, and improve employment outcomes,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that the country’s social protection system also provided important benefits “for many in our society, not only those who receive social grants.
“It supports economic growth from the bottom up, enables business activity, and strengthens social solidarity and stability. It is one of the greatest achievements of our democratic society, and one that we should all be proud of”.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
