Marecia Damons

1 week ago | techfinancials.co.za | Marecia Damons |Gugu Lourie

Black Sash hosted a discussion this week on whether removing social grants in an economy with high unemployment would worsen poverty and hunger. Black Sash’s Rachel Bukasa and COSATU’s Tony Ehrenreich argued that grants are a vital safety net amid job scarcity, rejecting claims that they breed dependency. Political economist Phumlani Majozi raised concerns about the fiscal sustainability of the grant system and criticised government’s lack of clear plans for economic growth and job creation.

1 week ago | groundup.org.za | Marecia Damons

Black Sash hosted a discussion this week on whether removing social grants in an economy with high unemployment would worsen poverty and hunger. Black Sash’s Rachel Bukasa and COSATU’s Tony Ehrenreich argued that grants are a vital safety net amid job scarcity, rejecting claims that they breed dependency. Political economist Phumlani Majozi raised concerns about the fiscal sustainability of the grant system and criticised government’s lack of clear plans for economic growth and job creation.

1 week ago | ewn.co.za | Marecia Damons

South Africa’s economy is not creating enough jobs, so what happens to the millions of people who currently rely on social grants? This was the question raised by activists, economists and labour leaders at a panel discussion hosted by the Black Sash in Cape Town on Wednesday. The event was part of the organisation’s 70th anniversary celebrations, and looked at the impact of removing social assistance in a country with high youth unemployment, food insecurity and growing inequality.

1 week ago | groundup.org.za | Marecia Damons

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is cracking down on social grant beneficiaries who may be receiving income that they have not disclosed to SASSA. In a statement on Tuesday, SASSA said that about 210,000 people have been identified through credit bureau checks. SASSA said it was acting in terms of the Social Assistance Act, which requires beneficiaries to declare all sources of income when applying for a grant and to report any changes after the grant has been approved.

2 weeks ago | groundup.org.za | Marecia Damons

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana says the R370-a-month Social Relief of Distress grant will be extended to the end of March 2026. But it is expected to be discontinued in that form after that. New conditions set by the National Treasury for other grants will require the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) to verify income monthly via bank checks and checks on government databases. SASSA must report quarterly on how many grants are cancelled and how much money is saved.