Government must increase social grants to avoid a humanitarian crisis

30 March 2016

Over the past few days, DA Leader in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Elza Van Lingen MP, and myself have conducted special oversight visits in the Eastern Cape to ascertain the impact on poor South African families of the below-inflation increase on social grants.

During our visits, many respondents shared their concerns about rising food prices and how their buying power is shrinking from one month to the next. 

This reinforces the DA’s call for an additional increase in social grants to assist those who need it most.

In addition to the concerns over food prices, we have heard repeatedly from old age pensioners of their daily struggles to make ends meet, in the wake of soaring food prices and ever-growing responsibilities with looking after grandchildren and other dependents. This situation is not helped by the disturbing prevalence of unlawful deductions from already paltry social grants, a situation which the DA is committed to address at its source.

One elderly woman told us she has had to go back to work because, with food being so expensive, she was simply unable to cope with sending her grandchildren to school, as well as providing clothes and food for them.

Just last month, the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, announced negligible increases for social grants that were far below-inflation.

 Already, the prices of staples such as maize and potatoes have increased more than the increases in grant amounts, with the worst effects of the drought still to come. 

The DA has consistently urged Minister Gordhan to reconsider our proposal for an above-inflation increase in social grants to offset the rise in food prices. Government’s immediate action is a necessity if we are to avert the humanitarian disaster which looms as the worst drought in a century persists. 

It is clear, however, that the ANC government cares more about living in luxurious oblivion, while the masses stave off starvation daily only to be used as voting pawns at elections to keep President Zuma and his cronies in power.

The most vulnerable in our society are falling prey to government’s negligence as the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, distracts herself by defending President Zuma’s hopelessly tattered reputation.

The DA will be putting forward proposals for budget amendments that focus on cutting wasteful and fruitless expenditure and ensure that more money is made available for those who need it the most, such as those receiving social grants and the unemployed youth. We cannot allow the most vulnerable in our society to continue to suffer as a result of an uncaring government that has failed to grow the economy, create jobs, and prioritise the needs of the poor.

The DA will continue to ensure government accountability and integrity to ensure that the most defenceless in the country are well taken care of. 

Issued by Bridget Masango, DA Shadow Minister of Social Development, 30 March 2016