‘Govt transferring ahead to create Fundamental Earnings Grant’ – SABC Information

Social Development Minister, Sisisi Tolashe, says the government is moving forward to create a Basic Income Grant. She was delivering her department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly.

For the 2025/26 financial year, the department will have nearly R300 billion to ensure the most vulnerable in the community are taken care of.

Of this, R24,7 billion is allocated to the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) for grant administration over the medium-term period.

Tolashe says attempts are underway to create a Basic Income Grant.

“We are forging ahead with processes to replace the COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress grant with a permanent measure in the form of a basic income support. Accordingly, we intend to re-table a policy proposal to Cabinet. The additional element of this policy proposal is to link beneficiaries to employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities. We will draw on the success of the pilot project underway in collaboration with the Finmark Trust,” says Tolashe.

Call for universal basic income grant