Here’s what Ramaphosa said about SASSA grants

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President Cyril Ramaphosa touched on SASSA grants and government’s plans to eradicate poverty in the country at this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Ramaphosa expressed government’s efforts to fight poverty for the past 30 years. He said over 20 million South Africans receive social grants. Find out what else he said during his address.

‘WE WANT A NATION WHERE NO ONE GOES HUNGRY’

Regarding poverty, Ramaphosa started out by stating that government doesn’t want anyone to go hungry.

“Today, we spend around 60 percent of our national budget on the social wage: on health, education, social protection, community development and public employment programmes.

“More than 10.5 million learners go to public schools where they do not have to pay fees. Last year, over 900,000 students from poor and working class backgrounds received funding to study at universities and colleges,” said Ramaphosa.

THERE IS STILL MUCH TO DO TO END POVERTY

Ramaphosa admitted at the SONA that there is still much to do eradicate poverty. The President said they want to ensure women no longer struggle to feed and clothe their children.

“Through these programmes, we are alleviating the worst effects of poverty. We are providing the means through which South Africans can rise above the poverty that has been passed down from one generation to the next.

“To protect the gains that we have made since 1994 in advancing children’s rights, we will soon adopt the National Strategy to Accelerate Action for Children, which focuses on ten key priorities including poverty reduction, child protection and addressing malnutrition,” he expressed.

INTEGRATED SYSTEM OF SUPPORT

The President also revealed that they are building an integrated system of support for the unemployed and poor. This is to remove the difficulty in accessing the various programmes available which are currently fragmented.

“We are strengthening existing programmes from job search support to public employment and making sure that together they provide people with pathways out of poverty.

“Rather than expecting those in need to approach several government agencies separately, a citizen should be able to go to one place to receive all of the support that they need,” he elaborated.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE SASSA SRD GRANT?

Ramaphosa detailed that over 28 million vulnerable and unemployed South Africans receive SASSA grants. He focused specifically on the SRD grant and what government’s plans are.

“The Social Relief of Distress Grant is as an essential mechanism for alleviating extreme poverty. We will use this grant as a basis for the introduction of a sustainable form of income support for unemployed people.”