Top-ups should have been made permanent

Amandla.mobi is disappointed that all top-ups are coming to an end as of November. The lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in job losses and put many families on the brink of hunger¹. Analysis of the NIDS-CRAM data² shows that the top-ups and the newly introduced grants were pro-poor and curbed hunger³. Over 30 million people living in households primarily led by women will be adversely impacted.

According to amandla.mobi Executive Director, Koketso Moeti, ‘’how is it that the government can find R10.5 billion to bailout the South African Airways, but cannot find the funds to support struggling people and families in the country?OR Despite thousands of phone calls from our members to Treasury explaining how critical the top-ups are to their survival during these trying times, the government cancels the top-ups. But we will continue to fight for grant increases so that no one in South Africa has to go hungry and everyone can live in dignity,’’

Junior Campaigner Tlou Seopa states, ‘’by not making the Child Support Grant (CSG) top-up permanent and extended to per child, the government’s grant policy is anti-women and anti-poor’’

Over 500 000 amandla.mobi members, primarily poor Black women, signed onto our campaigns demanding that the government increase the CSG and the pensioners grant. They will continue to push for an increase, because they are fighting to keep their families fed. As one of our members wrote to us, ‘’I think it is a disgrace to take away the top-up. I am the sole provider of 2 kids, one of whom is disabled and my bed bound husband. The top-up has helped me so much to put food on the table.’’

For more information and interviews:

Koketso Moeti

Amandla.mobi: Executive Director
Cell: +27 82 583 5869
Email: [email protected]

Tlou Seopa
Amandla.mobi: Campaigner
Cell: +27 81 761 5326
Email: [email protected]