SASSA News on Basic Income Support (BIS)
In todays latest SASSA News – The government has already announced its plan to provide assistance in the form of a basic income support.
Basic Income Support is being considered for rollout by the Department of Social Development (DSD) (BIS).
President Cyril Ramaphosa outlined the government’s plans to create a framework for targeted Basic Income Support during his State of the Nation Address (SONA). The budgetary limits of the country are being taken into account when this plan is produced.
According to DSD Minister Lindiwe Zulu, BIS is necessary because of how the South African economy and society are now set up, which privileges a small elite.
“If ours were not a society and economy that are constructed to serve the absolute few,” Zulu argued, “there would be fewer grounds mandating government intervention.”
The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) award laid the groundwork for the innovations that would be used in BIS, such as the linking of data across government departments to guarantee that all vulnerable people are cared for.
In addition, Ramaphosa stated that the SRD grant would be maintained by the government past 2024. In the words of Minister Zulu, this demonstrates the government’s dedication to safeguarding citizens from the adverse effects of economic, health, social, and climate change.
Along with other government agencies and private sector partners, the Social Development portfolio will outline a strategy for integrating young adults who are in a position to work and are receiving child support funds into the workforce.
According to Minister Zulu, this will give youth who are now receiving grants the economic independence they need to live dignified lives.
It is vital that these be genuinely empowered to improve their dignity and eradicate most of the socially created vulnerabilities that bedevil women, the minister said, noting that nearly majority of the young people who get grants on behalf of children are young women.
Minister Zulu said that the fiscus may be relieved more by creating jobs for young people and by sponsoring programs that encourage business ownership.
