The Know Your Neighbour (KYN) party would like to express its distress at the manner in which the issue of the Social Relief of Distress Grant was handled by President Cyril Ramaphosa in his State of The Nation Address.
The extension of the grant by 12 months will add more stress to the recipients - because it means they will be stuck with the R350 for the entire year, with no upward adjustment.
What Ramaphosa did was silence the indigent for the whole year. He knows that according to research and social experts' findings, the minimum amount one could at least survive on is R1 200 a month.
This R350 actually brings more misery than there would be if there was nothing as it blocks other benefits like special projects and Expanded Public Works Programme opportunities.
In fact, this spend-me-now grant is meant to keep economic activity alive as on the day of the payout, supermarkets, spaza shops and beer halls are abuzz, while the recipient goes home empty-handed.
Our suggestion is: pay R1 200, in two forms - R900 cash and the remaining R300 compulsory saving for 12 months (with no charges) to encourage the culture of saving.
- Letter by TJ Monareng, KYN leader
This is a great idea from the KYN, as it would give our people that opportunity.
This letter wins R200 today. Call Nthabiseng at our offices to collect. - Deputy Editor
