The GOOD party believes South Africa must introduce a Basic Income Grant (BIG). According to the party, a BIG will ensure that millions of people currently living in poverty and unemployed are adequately assisted.
GOOD launched its 2024 manifesto last week in the run-up to the 2024 General Elections in South Africa. The party has continuously called for the introduction of a BIG at a value of R999 per month to ensure that vulnerable citizens receive the support they need.
The GOOD proposes a solution to existing poverty and to support the millions of unemployed people by implementing a BIG of R999 per month.
GOOD emphasised that the introduction of a BIG must be adequate to ensure that people living below the poverty line can meet their basic needs while they search for employment.
The BIG aims to ensure that those living below the poverty line can meet their basic human needs while they search for employment and a longer-term path out of poverty.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) already disputes around 19 million permanent grant payments monthly. Permanent grants distributed by Sassa include the Older Persons pension grant, Disability grant, War Veterans grant, Care Dependency grant, Foster Child grant, Child Support grant, Child Support grant Top-Up and Grant-in-aid.
In addition to the 19 million permanent grant beneficiaries in the country, approximately nine million people are benefiting from the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant. The SRD grant is the only financial support currently available to unemployed adults living in South Africa.
Spending on Grants
In the 2024/2025 financial year, the government's outlined expenditure on grants includes R107 Billion for the old-age grant, R89.0 billion for social security funds, R85.8 billion for the child-support grant, R73.4 billion for other grants, R22.0 billion for provincial social development and R10.1 billion for policy oversight and grant administration.
Many of the questions surrounding the introduction of the BIG is its affordability. This as the South African economy is plagued by slow economic growth.
GOOD party leader Patricia De Lille says funding for a BIG could be achieved by ensuring budgets are used effectively, using a zero-based budgeting system, introducing tax reforms and cutting corruption.
Our country can afford a BIG, and it can be implemented through allocative efficiency, restructuring government, professionalising the public service, cutting out corruption, and some tax reforms.
