Government Has No Basic Income Support Program Policy – Finance Minister

In a recent meeting with the South African Parliament, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana disclosed that the government does not have a basic income grant policy in place. This is in stark contrast to the announcement made by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his State of the Nation Address earlier this year.

During the State of the Nation Address, President Ramaphosa stated that the government was exploring the possibility of introducing a basic income grant in South Africa to replace the current Social Relief of Distress (SRD R350) grant . This grant would provide financial assistance to individuals who do not receive any other form of social grant or income.

However, Finance Minister Godongwana’s recent statement suggests that the government has not yet developed a policy for the implementation of a basic income grant. He stated that while discussions were ongoing, there were still many factors to consider before such a grant could be introduced.

South Africa Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana

This news comes as a disappointment to many South Africans who were hoping for the introduction of a basic income grant as a means of providing financial relief to those who have been hardest hit by the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite this setback, Finance Minister Godongwana stated that the government is committed to providing financial assistance to those in need through existing social grants and other programs. He emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure that these programs are effective and efficient in providing assistance to those who need it most.

As South Africa continues to navigate the challenges of the pandemic and its economic fallout, the issue of providing financial assistance to those in need will remain a critical concern. While the government’s position on a basic income grant remains unclear, it is clear that efforts will continue to be made to provide support to those who are struggling financially.

Source : #SouthAfricaAsk and Government of South Africa

Related Articles

Responses