GOOD Media Statement by Brett Herron,
GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
29 August 2023
The updated Poverty Lines highlight South Africa’s desperate need for a Basic Income Grant.
Stats SA has revised the National Poverty Lines based on the rising cost of living.
The new Food poverty line, the amount needed to afford the minimum required daily energy intake, is R760 per person per month.
The Lower-bound poverty line, the food poverty line plus the average amount derived from non-food items has been revised to R1,058 per person per month.
Our country is experiencing extreme poverty with many South Africans having limited to no access to any income and relying heavily on social grants.
According to the Q2:2023 employment figures, 13.3-million citizens, who are of working age, are not economically active.
The need for basic income support is a moral and legal duty.
The right to this support is protected by the Bill of Rights in our Constitution.
In 2020, the government introduced the R350 per month Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant.
While the National Treasury has held the view, as reported in the 2023/24 budget, that this is a temporary grant that will end in 2024, the ANC government knows that withdrawing the grant would be political suicide.
The suggestion that it would be withdrawn on 31 March 2024 – right in the middle of a national election – was always a fairy tale.
Given the scale of unemployment and poverty, the truth is that once this grant was introduced there was no way it could ever be withdrawn.
But as GOOD we maintain that the R350 per month is not nearly sufficient.
The amount was introduced in 2020 and despite rampant inflation and rising food prices, it has never been increased.
With the new information from Stats SA, it is obvious this amount is a massive failure of our government to meet the needs of those who are unable to provide for themselves.
The R350 is not even halfway to the food poverty line – this means it isn’t enough to pay for the most basic food items to keep starvation and food insecurity at bay.
The GOOD party reiterates our call for the SRD grant to be used as the foundation for a Basic Income Grant and that this be increased to at least R999 per month.
This would place the Basic Income Grant above the food poverty line and closer to the lower bound poverty line.
The GOOD party has done the research and through measures such as effective allocations, restructuring government, and some amendments to certain tax incentives we can ensure that those who need it are provided with assistance that will allow them to meet their most basic human needs.
A comprehensive social security system can and must be implemented with the necessary political will.
It’s not a charitable act but a Constitutional and moral one.
GOOD calls on the State to commit to implementing a Basic Income Grant of at least R999.
Media Enquiries:
Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary-General & Member of Parliament
Cell: 082 518 3264
Email: bretth@forgood.org.za
Samantha Jackson, GOOD Acting Media Manager
Cell: 083 550 9875
Email: media@forgood.org.za