Even before COVID-19, a large number of South African residents were struggling to make ends meet and that is why they were demanding that grant amounts increase to afford basic needs. At amandla.mobi, our campaigns to demand a 13th cheque for the Gogos and an increase of R500 for the Child Support Grant were signed by over 500K people.

The temporary top-ups to help recipients at the start of the COVID-19 lockdown were welcomed news due to the expectation of increased unemployment and rising costs. Although the Coronavirus is still with us, the top-ups are not, leaving many children, Gogos, mothers and the unemployed to scrape by somehow.

Through our work with our members and partner organisations, we are in contact with a number of impacted people including Gogos, CSG beneficiaries and unemployed. As the struggles of ordinary residents of Mzansi is, unfortunately, becoming increasingly common, these stories need to be a part of public discourse and the media can play an important role in writing about poverty and the inadequacy of the grant amounts.

As uGogo Fikile Gumede said, “Imali ayanele. Angikwazi ukuthengela mina noma abazukulu bami izingubo. Uthenga irayisi, amazsambane kanye nempuphu bese imali isiphelile. Ngisho namanje, angeke ngikwazi ukuthenga abazukulu bami izingubo zikaKhisimusi. Ngisho nemali ayisakhokhelwa ngesikhathi. Sinxusa uhulumeni ukuthi asizwe.”

If you would be interested in speaking to gogos, we would be happy to connect you with them.

For more information and interviews:

Tlou Seopa

Amandla.mobi: Campaigner

Cell: +27 81 761 5326

Email: [email protected]