"It's in its conceptual stages, but we want the able-bodied and unemployed to work in their communities and get food vouchers and a small cash stipend in return for this," the social development MEC told Sapa.

"We want to stop the concept of a handout and allow them to live in dignity and not in squalor. We have the ability to clean our own areas."

The programme would task unemployed people between the ages of about 17 and 45 with clearing alien vegetation.

The province was looking at other meaningful ways they could better their communities, such as growing vegetable gardens and helping in soup kitchens. A pilot programme would be rolled out in Atlantis and Nyanga, both very poor areas.

Fritz said his vision was to have a central nutrition centre for each community, combining social programmes for the elderly, disabled, school pupils, and the unemployed.

The system is based on a similar concept in Brazil, which feeds its poor through a so-called People's Restaurant.

Fritz said the province would not officially employ people, but could give them a reference letter for future employers. They would also get skills training.

The Centre for Social Development in Africa, located in the University of Johannesburg's social work department, said attaching conditions to social benefits created an interesting debate.

Director Leila Patel said this system had been used for many years in different countries.

"There is nothing wrong, per se, with attaching conditions to accessing benefits, but it is really about why the department is doing it and how they understand unemployment [that counts]," Patel said.

"The notion that people are going to become dependent on government can detract from people's rights to certain benefits and services."

She said departments had to be very careful in making sure the poor and unemployed were not stigmatised by assuming they did not want to work.

Many could not get jobs because of the economy's inability to create them, and the effects of the global recession.

Employing people, especially women, presented other complex issues such as who would care for their children, she said.

The pilot was expected to be rolled out by July.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 16:58:04 SAST 2013 ::

May 11, 2012

LBS

BRILLIANT CONCEPT!!

About time that those that are able bodied contribute to society instead of waiting for handouts.
If they can't find work at least they will be doing something useful and putting food on the table.
It will restore their dignity too.


This concept should also apply to criminals who, instead of sitting idle most of the day watching TV, should be growing their own food and doing general maintenance under supervision of verges, school grounds and the prisons themselves.

"The devil makes work for idle hands" comes to mind so let's keep them busy!
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May 11, 2012

SteveBiko

They work for food, they pay them with food? hpw is food going to pay for the elctricity bill,school fees just to mention a few, but what do you expect from the only colony left in Africa, Cape colony.
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May 11, 2012

LBS

SteveBiko
They work for food, they pay them with food? hpw is food going to pay for the elctricity bill,school fees just to mention a few, but what do you expect from the only colony left in Africa, Cape colony.
==============================

They will get a small stipend (small amount of money)
Everyone is entitled to a certain amount of electricity/water and schools are free for those who cannot pay.....

Why not comment on the idea instead of bashing the ONLY area of this country that is functioning efficiently?
ANC don't uplift the people, they make promises hand out other people's money (taxpayers) in return for votes.
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May 11, 2012

Sinudeity

SteveBiko - The last colony? You mean the only 1st world city in South Africa.

Seeing as how you dont know how things work, I'll explain it to you:
People are not just given food for free, they work for it.
Oh, and their schoolfees and electricity are paid for by the government.

Im guessing you are an ANC supporter? What, with that lame comment you made.
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May 11, 2012

LBS

correction

Everyone is entitled to a certain amount of F REE electricity/water
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May 11, 2012

PleaseGetReal

SteveBiko
They work for food, they pay them with food? hpw is food going to pay for the elctricity bill,school fees just to mention a few, but what do you expect from the only colony left in Africa, Cape colony.

Every time you type something your idiocy just shows more and more, food does not pay for electricity yes, these people do not have money in any case, how the f*** would you like them to pay for electricity.
The work for food program will benefit much more as money could go to alcohol and drugs.

For just once, think before you type. I see it is also a huge pain for you that the best run city in Africa is not under your incompetent, thieving low life anc. LIVE WITH IT
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May 11, 2012

Tasto

Another dop-system aagh man (D)evovled(A)partheid !!
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May 11, 2012

Papage

So no more Lotto contributions, do like wise, dont take lotto money and still make people to pay, yes I agree, those who can work must work for food. Pensioners be helped to register for grants. then by so doing half the burden.
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May 11, 2012

Kasiologist

Biko, these are unemployed people we are talking about. They have no food to begin with, so doing something to get a meal voucher would be a step in th eright direction for them. A small stipend will then further assist.

Less idle minds, less petty crimes.
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May 11, 2012

cornelius

@ Tasto. Jir man, are you dof or what ?This is a sche.me that will HELP people, if they are prepared to do a little bit of w.ork. Is that concept fore.ign to your brain ? Do you think, you flip.pin egg, that researchers at Wits, and Mr Fritz, would have devis.ed a sch.eme that has it s purpose to be to the detriment of people ? Come on man, your kind of stupi/dity and neg/ativity, that irrationa.lity critic.ises constructive projects are exactly the kind of thing that is drawing this country to the toil.et. Come on man, just use your brain. How old are you ?
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