Ads a response to the growing number of people in the country who are dependent on some form of income support, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced that the government plans to increase the monthly payouts that are made to beneficiaries of social grant programs. This was done in response to the fact that the number of people in the country who require some form of income support is growing.
In his address to the nation on the status of the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that no South African falls below a particular quality of living and that they have a duty to offer a minimum degree of protection to do so. He mentioned that there are currently over 25 million people in the country who are receiving some type of economic support from the government.
The President was also concerned about the rising cost of living in South Africa, which is making poverty and inequality worse for millions of South Africans who are unable to care for themselves and their families as the cost of living continues to rise. In order to solve this problem, the government intends to keep and carry on the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRD), which helps 7.8 million people at the moment. To fight against poverty and hunger, the government allocates almost sixty percent of its budget to the social wage program, which offers a variety of kinds of support, essential services, and help to households and individuals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that the administration is striving to build a permanent system for targeted basic income support for those who are the most needy notwithstanding the severe fiscal restrictions that are currently in place. Additionally, the National Treasury is contemplating “immediate steps” to protect the most disadvantaged citizens from the impact that load shedding will have on the skyrocketing cost of food.
In addition to expanding social handouts, President Cyril Ramaphosa brought attention to the fact that about two million low-income families in South Africa are provided with free basic water, free basic electricity, and free removal of solid trash. The speech that will be given on this year’s budget on February 22nd, 2023 will be given by the Minister of Finance, and his name is Enoch Godongwana. In it, further information regarding the social handouts will be offered.
Because South Africa is dealing with a variety of critical problems that require immediate action, the State of the Nation Address for this year is shaping up to be one of the most difficult in the country’s history. The speech that the President gives, in which he will describe the government’s plans to address these concerns and provide support to those who require it the most, will be observed very carefully.
