Grant beneficiary numbers to soar
More than a million additional citizens will come to rely on the State for income over the next three years, according to Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.
In his 2012 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), tabled in Parliament, he said the number of state grant beneficiaries will climb to 17.3 million by 2015/16.
Just over 16.1 million people currently receive grants.
According to the document, the child support grant will see the most significant increases.
Around 12.2 million parents will depend on state support to care for their children.
The number of pensioners and war veterans, currently about 2.8 million beneficiaries, will increase to just over 3 million over the next three years.
Over the same period, the number of South Africans dependent on a disability grant will drop slightly, to 1.1 million.
According to the MTBPS, the social development department has saved R450 million through a new grants administration contract.
“A portion of this will be reprioritised to improve the SA Social Security Agency’s infrastructure and systems, and to employ additional social workers.”
While not revealing too much, the MTBPS says the 2013/14 budget, to be tabled by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in February next year, will make provision for “the recruitment of graduates from the social worker scholarship programme, which trains some 5,000 students”.
Earlier this year, the SA Institute for Race Relations put the population to social worker ratio at 5,446 to 1, with the lowest provincial ratio in the Eastern Cape.
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Katakataemaotoaditshepe!
We're paying taxation it's fine what will our grannies and children do.Report Abuse
100%Boer
How many Zimbabweans are getting this social grant?And the other child ghosts?
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Voetzek
There is nothing wrong with that as long as is for children and old age, my problem is zuma's wives and tender-prenureReport Abuse
!#Sinudeity#!
So thats what, 20 million people on grants?And they are doing NOTHING for this money.
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MommaC
This is not sustainable.Report Abuse
lenyora13
so bout 5 million people have to feed 20 million people.. something has to give...Report Abuse
cornelius
And its not as if these recipients ever express any thanks to the taxpayers - no , they just keep on wanting more.Report Abuse
nickster2
I am so tired of being an abused tax paying South African.I get nothing for my tax contribution.
Litter everywhere
Poverty everywhere
Pot holes everywhere
Poor education
Poor hospitals
Poor Policing
The list goes on
Vs
Rich Politician
Rich ANC
Rich ANCYL
Rich ANC friends.
The list goes on
Im sick of being an abused tax payer.
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