Here’s what every political party in SA says about SASSA social grants in 2024. Image: File/Fotor
EVERY party’s stance on SASSA social grants in 2024 if elected
The EFF claims it will double SASSA social grants in 2024 if elected to power. But what about all the other political parties?
Here’s what every political party in SA says about SASSA social grants in 2024. Image: File/Fotor
Earlier in the year at an ANC party gathering, President Ramaphosa suggested SASSA social grants in 2024 would disappear if the ruling party was not reelected. Now, the EFF has responded by saying not only will SASSA social grants in 2024 not go away should it come to power, but the party will in fact double them.
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Notwithstanding the pre-election grandstanding, Daily Maverick has published a fascinating story in which it reviews what each political party plans to do for South African Social Security Agency grants in 2024 if elected.
SASSA SOCIAL GRANTS IN 2024
Currently, upwards of 28-million South Africans rely on relatively meagre SASSA social grants in 2024. Nevertheless, this still costs the ANC government an estimated R253 billion each year to support its ‘pro-poor’ policies. Understandably, any new government party or coalition would face tremendous backlash should it suddenly do away with such ingrained financial support.
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On the flip side, the Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will not cull SASSA social grants in 2024 if it ascends to power. “Social grants are a constitutional right and any suggestion that the DA would take them away if elected to national government is patently false and misleading,” said the party.
WHAT THE PARTIES SAY
Although detail is thin on the ground, the DA has said it will increase the Child Support Grant from R510 a month to R760. Furthermore, it says it supports a Basic Income Grant but only in the context of economic growth that makes it affordable and viable.
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Speaking this past weekend at the party’s manifesto launch, EFF leader, Julius Malema, promised a doubling of all SASSA social grants in 2024:
- Older Persons Grant: R2 090 to R4 180 per month.
- War Veterans Grant: R2 110 to R4 220 per month.
- Disability Grant: R2 090 to R4 180 per month.
- Care Dependency Grant: R2 090 to R4 180 per month.
- Foster Child Grant: R1 130 to R2 260 per month.
- Child Support Grant: R510 to R1 020 per month.
- Grant-in-Aid Support: R510 to R1 020 per month.
- Additionally, it will start a R1 000 disbursement for matriculants without jobs and increase it incrementally for graduates with additional tertiary education.
SUPPORT ACROSS THE BOARD
The IFP, the third-largest party in South Africa, says it will stick with social grants and potentially increase them, although it does not specify by how much exactly. Herman Mashaba’s ActionSA says it will expand SASSA social grants in 2024 and introduce a Basic Income Grant. Rise Mzansi says it, too, supports income grants and additional measures such as food vouchers for grant recipients.
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Of course, political parties can say anything ahead of the national elections if it entices voters to their side. EFF’s Malema, for example, did not explain how his party would fund an estimated R500 billion social welfare bill should it double SASSA social grants in 2024. The reality is no opposition party will fully understand the challenges of running social grant disbursements until it is in the hot-seat.
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