On Thursday, 2 February 2023, protesters marched to the Union Buildings to call on President Ramaphosa to address their social grant demands when he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
On Thursday, 2 February 2023, protesters marched to the Union Buildings to call on President Ramaphosa to address their social grant demands when he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
March organiser Tlou Seopa of amandla.mobi said: “We are marching to demand President Ramaphosa to announce clear plans to turn the R350 grant into a Basic Income Grant of R1417 per person per month when he addresses the nation this coming Thursday.”
The march started outside Sassa’s Head Office in Pretoria, where members of community organisations, including amandla.mobi, protested. Sassa officials were under pressure as over 500 people gathered to handover a memorandum demanding that Sassa urgently fixes R350 grant issues such as declining people unfairly, appeal applications that have been pending for months, and approved pay dates with no actual payments. Acting SASSA CEO Abraham Mahlangu and Sassa Spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi received the memorandum.
The crowd then marched to the Union Buildings to hand over another memorandum. A delegation of ten people representing their different community organisations met with Presidency representatives to voice their grievances. One community leader, Gogo Eunice Manzini from Community Organising Working Group, said: “As a pensioner, I find myself having to buy basic needs for my children and grandchildren because they have no means of support as they are unable to get work. The Basic Income Grant is important to help families like mine because, as a pensioner, it is difficult to provide for my family as I cannot work, and watching my family and other families like mine struggling every day to put food on the table, angers me and breaks my heart. The President has to deliver for the people.”
Melita Ngcobo of the Abahlali Base Mjondolo also spoke with the representatives. “Already, we are struggling with land, proper housing and sanitation. Yet we still have to face the struggle of putting food on the table. Our communities need as much assistance as possible, and a Basic Income Grant is important to help ease the many issues we face every day,” she said.
The memorandum was received by Public Liaison and Stakeholder Management Phil Mahlangu, who promised to relay the message and the memorandum to the office of the Presidency. On 3 February 2023, Presidency sent a Letter of Acknowledgement of the memorandum and committed to responding ahead of SONA.
The amandla.mobi community has been petitioning, protesting and campaigning for the R350 to be increased, extended and turned into a basic income grant for over three years. A joint petition with Black Sash has over 300,000 signatures. The campaigns can be found here:
https://awethu.amandla.mobi/petitions/basic-income-support-for-aged-18-to-59-now
https://act.amandla.mobi/campaigns/tax-the-rich
For more information and interviews, contact
Tlou Seopa
amandla.mobi Campaigner
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 081 761 5326
Thabisile Miya
amandla.mobi Community Engagement Officer
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 063 472 0680
Zintle Tyuku
amandla.mobi Community Engagement Officer
Email: [email protected]
Cell: 082 776 8551
