By: Zilungile Mkhize
The Department of Social Development reports significant progress in finalising a basic income support policy for individuals aged 18 to 59.
During a briefing to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee, the department disclosed that a first draft was submitted to Cabinet last year. Further consultations are planned to ensure the policy’s affordability and alignment with the country’s social protection framework.
Deputy Director-General Bathembu Futshane announced that a follow-up workshop is scheduled for next month. Following this engagement, the draft policy will be resubmitted to Cabinet for consideration before being released for public comment.
This initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to address poverty and unemployment among working-age adults who are currently excluded from most forms of social assistance.
In related developments, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is set to launch a new Universal Basic Income (UBI) grant on June 15, 2025. This grant aims to provide monthly financial support to eligible citizens, marking a significant shift in South Africa’s approach to social welfare. Eligibility criteria include being a South African citizen, permanent resident, or refugee aged 18 to 59 with a monthly income of less than R1,500 and not receiving other social grants, except the Child Support Grant.
The introduction of the UBI grant follows the government’s commitment to extend the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant until March 2027, with provisional allocations of R35.2 billion and R36.8 billion for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years, respectively. However, challenges remain, including concerns over the SRD system’s security vulnerabilities and the need for improved administration to ensure effective delivery of social grants.
