The DA desires a 30% increase in the Sassa SRD Grant.
The South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) is essential to the implementation of social security policies as well as the nation’s social development efforts. Sassa is in charge of managing and distributing numerous grants and benefits to qualified people and low-income families. These grants are intended to offer vulnerable populations financial support and assistance, assisting them in meeting their basic necessities and raising their standard of living.
In support of the department of social development’s finding that the child support grant is insufficient to protect the poorest children from hunger, malnutrition, and stunting, the DA wants to increase the child support grant from R480 to R624 per month.
According to the household affordability index for March 2023, the child support grant of R480 is 28% below the food poverty line of R663, and 40% below the average cost of a nutritious child’s diet of R874.71.
To support their argument, the DA refers to the March 2023 household affordability index. According to this index, the child support grant of R480 falls 28% below the food poverty line, which is calculated to be R663. The food poverty line represents the minimum amount of income required to afford a basic diet that meets nutritional requirements. In addition, the grant is 45% below the average cost of R874.71 for providing a basic nutritious diet for a child.
These statistics highlight the disparity between the current child support grant and the actual cost of providing adequate nutrition for children. The DA argues that such a significant gap places vulnerable children at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and stunted growth, which can have long-term detrimental effects on their health and well-being.
