*Campaign update* The ANC committed to implementing the grant within two years, with an amount starting at the Food Poverty Line, currently R760, and progressing to the Upper Bound Poverty Line, currently R1 558. ANC says they will explore progressive tax measure to fund the grant.
This campaign has ended.
Politicians are competing for your vote in the 2024 election. Four of the key political parties support a Basic Income Grant, including the ANC, DA, EFF and Action SA.
If politicians are going to promise a Basic Income Grant, we can force them to explain when the BIG will start, how much it will be, how many will get it and how it will be funded. If parties have to show us their plans before elections, we can hold them accountable and make a Basic Income Grant a reality.
Help us demand the ANC to share concrete plans for the Basic Income Grant now!
In 2021, speaking at the annual Nelson Mandela memorial lecture, President Cyril Ramaphosa said a BIG would show the people ‘that the government cared.' [1] In his 2023 State of the Nation Address (SoNA), the President claimed that work is underway to develop ‘targetted basic income support’ in South Africa [2]. But it is not only President Ramaphosa who has publicly committed to a BIG. Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has also claimed that her department is pushing for the BIG and even supported taxing the rich to fund the grant [3].
Politicians like to forget about their promises after elections. The upcoming elections allow us to maximise our power and pressure politicians to act now. Join us and call on the ANC to urgently share their plans for the BIG before the elections. Together in solidarity, we can ensure all those who need urgent assistance to survive get it and help realise a better and dignified life for all.
amandla.mobi is an independent, non-partisan community advocacy organisation that is not aligned with any political party. Together with our members, we are engaging four of South Africa’s most significant political parties.
Dear ANC,
We call on you to provide clear plans for implementing the BIG:
1. Commit: Increase the R350 grant to match the monthly food poverty line of R760; expand the R350 SRD grant to include the 16 million people who qualify for it [4], and turn it into a BIG.
2. Timeframe: Implement the BIG by March 2025.
3. How much: We demand a BIG of no less than R1 600 per person per month. BIG should increase each year in line with at least the Upper Bound Food Poverty line.
4. Who will get it: All people in Mzansi with little to no income between 18 and 59 must get the grant. This must include people currently receiving the R350 grant and those who have been declined for the grant due to unfair regulations.
5. Funding: We demand a BIG funded by the wealthiest, and not the poor through VAT increases or cuts to social spending.
6. No matter the outcome of the election, commit to working to implement a BIG and to consistently share progress reports leading to implementation in April 2025.
Millions are struggling due to the high cost of living, corruption and deteriorating public services. Many have lost faith in you, and now is the time to show your commitment to improving the lives of the people and the future generations of Mzansi.
We call on you to provide clear and detailed responses to the above demands so we know exactly what you are committing to. We ask you to provide these by the end of February 2024.
References
[1] Ramaphosa says basic income grant will show government cares, Caril Paton and Hajra Omarjee for Business Day, 18 July 2021.
[2] Basic income grant for South Africa is coming, Staff Writer for Business Tech, 9 February 2023.
[3] Cabinet to see proposed BIG policy early in new year, Mayobongwe Maqhina for IOL, 28 November 2023.
[4] R350 grant: Sassa in court over “unfair” exclusions, Liezl Human for GroundUp, 5 September 2023.
