By Celani Sikhakhane
President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured millions of unemployed people that they will benefit from a permanent basic income grant.
He said the R350 grant introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic will form the foundation of the grant.
During his address to ANC supporters at the party’s manifesto launch at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday, Ramaphosa indicated that the grant would be adjusted upward.
The R350 grant has not been increased since its introduction in 2020 and its purchasing power has been eroded by inflation over the years.
“We want our people to be financially independent. That is why we have decided to convert the social relief into a permanent basic grant for the unemployed,” said Ramaphosa.
During his budget speech last week, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said the new value of the R350 grant will be announced when the grant is published in the government gazette.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa also promised to rebuild the capacity of local municipalities with the appointment of properly qualified people.
Abuse of the ANC cadre deployment for partisan agendas has collapsed governance in over 100 municipalities.
In the face of public criticism against the deployment of the defence force in peacekeeping missions in the DRC and other parts of the continent, Ramaphosa assured the nation of the importance of promoting peace, development and justice globally.
“Over the next five years we will continue to support the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area to increase South Africa’s trade and manufacturing within Africa. We will promote peace, security, and development in SADC and beyond and advance solidarity with Palestine, Western Sahara, Cuba and others,” he said.
Ramaphosa and the ANC are hoping their campaign against Israel’s attack on the people of Palestine would be well received by voters.
Pro-Palestine demonstrations have gathered large crowds in the highly contested provinces of Gauteng, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
Having successfully packed the 75,000 seater Moses Mabhida Stadium, the ANC show of force will culminate at the party’s Siyanqoba Rally at the 100,000-seater FNB Stadium in Johannesburg closer to the 29 May elections.
Pictured above: President Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President Paul Mashatile and ANC KZN Chairperson Siboniso Duma.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
