Basic income is long overdue. Twenty years ago, the Taylor Committee recommended a basic income grant. Both the 2022 SONA and budget speech will set a precedent for the future of social security and assistance for people living in poverty in South Africa.
amandla.mobi invites the media to attend the delivery of the Basic Income Support petition to a presidency representative at 12 pm today outside the Parliament building in Cape Town.
The petition is being run by amandla.mobi and Black Sash and has been endorsed by many organisations. The petition calls for the immediate implementation of Basic Income Support for those aged 18 to 59, with little to no income, valued at the upper-bound poverty line, which is currently R1335 per person per month.
“At a time when many people struggle to afford the taxi fare to attend a job interview, start their own small business or put enough food on the table, the R350 grant has been a step in the right direction and is a bridge to implementing basic income support. While some of the Presidents advisers may be divided over basic income, the signatures of over 300,000 people should remind President Ramaphosa that there is mass public support,” says Tlou Seopa, a campaigner at amandla.mobi.
One petition signer said: “I support everything which has a chance to do away with the inequality the apartheid system has left behind. This initiative stands to balance the scale of income inequalities, restore human dignity and fight the food insecurities in our communities.”*
The petition has been just one tactic used as part of a broader campaign calling for Basic Income Support. Campaign supporters have also sent in public submissions to National Treasury, Parliamentary Committees, as well as calling the Presidency hot-line.
“Many of the campaign supporters are black women from low-income backgrounds, and they know better than anyone just how difficult things are right now. We should be listening to those who will be most impacted by the decision to keep and increase the R350 until it is turned into basic income,” adds Tlou Seopa.
One campaign supporter, Theresa Linden, said, “I’m also in favour of the Basic Income Grant and for the social relief to be from 18 to 59 because we are all struggling…I’m unable to work due to a terminal lung condition, so we have been under a lot of strain where we only have one part-time person getting an income that has to see to everything. Also, we sit with an eviction over our heads. We could be on the streets anytime now. So, I’m in favour of the social relief to be from 18 to 59.”
Basic income is long overdue. Twenty years ago, the Taylor Committee recommended a basic income grant. Both the 2022 SONA and budget speech will set a precedent for the future of social security and assistance for people living in poverty in South Africa.
The signature handover will be made by two amandla.mobi representatives. Signatures were collected not only online but also through SMS, Whatsapp, and other accessible means.
Find the campaign here: https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/basic-income-support-for-aged-18-to-59-now.
*Petition signer quotes slightly edited for brevity and clarity.
For more information and interviews:
Tlou Seopa – amandla.mobi Campaigner
Cell: 081 761 5326 / 067 654 6027
Email address: [email protected]
Palesa Ramolefo – amandla.mobi Campaigner
Cell: 060 899 4279
Email address: [email protected]
