GOOD speech by Brett Herron,
GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
03 March 2022
Note to editors: This was the speech delivered by GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament, Brett Herron, during a debate on expanding the comprehensive social security system to leave no one behind. This speech was delivered today in Parliament.
Madam Speaker,
The level of inequality is South Africa’s greatest existential threat. It is not only unjust, given the history from which the democratic country emerged, but it is wholly unsustainable.
It has created a social tinder-box of deprivation and division. Last July we witnessed the ease with which the box could be ignited and people encouraged to break the law, loot, steal, destroy and murder.
Dismantling the deeply entrenched divisions that keep South Africans apart – social, economic, spatial and environmental – must be our single over-arching priority.
The truth is that our economy is unable to generate enough jobs to reduce, let alone eliminate, unemployment. This leaves millions of South Africans without any access to an income. A combination of unemployment and poverty has led to increased, and indescribable, hardship where poor families are starving and scavenging for food.
The country cannot afford not to address these people’s plight.
South Africa has a well-established social assistance programme, of cash transfers, but the programme excludes millions who are 18 to 59 years old – the assumed age of economic activity.
Section 27 of South Africa’s rights-based constitution guarantees every person the right to sufficient food and water, and social security.
It is in this context that the debate about a basic income grant must be understood.
When an economy is unable to provide enough jobs for people to earn an income, and take care of themselves financially, then the state has a duty to provide some social security.
This is not a gift or a handout. It is a right. And that’s beside considerations of morality and Ubuntu.
The Social Relief Grant has been providing nearly 10 million beneficiaries with some cash transfers. So, we welcome, as a first step, the extension of this grant.
But, we need to progress from here and provide a permanent safety net for those who need it.
The question of quantum is continuously challenging.
The most recent data, published by StatsSA, shows the Food Poverty Line is R624 per person per month.
This is the amount of money a South African needs to purchase the minimum daily food required to live.
The fastest way to achieve comprehensive social security is to start with a basic income grant at the Food Poverty Line.
We must address affordability. If you start from the premise that no adult can be expected to live without any income then you stop asking how can we afford it and start asking how can we afford not to.
We are not unaware of the current financial constraints. It is a matter of prioritisation. If the Minister of Finance follows through on the plan to introduce zero-based budgeting, and identifying our absolute priorities, it will free up significant savings.
The introduction of a basic income grant is the only way to directly address the growing epidemic of deprivation, hunger and malnutrition.
We can no longer ignore it.
Media enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD: Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 082 5183264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samkelo Mgobozi, GOOD: Media Manager
Cell: 0792315977 (whatsapp)/0829684021 (calls)
Email: samm@forgood.org.za