A spokesperson for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) on Wednesday said he welcomed the Coalition for Basic Income Grant’s proposal that government should give all citizens a monthly grant of at least R100 to alleviate poverty.
Billy Maseti, co-ordinator for the economic justice desk at the SABC said that, of the 46-million people living in South Africa, almost half existed on less than R140 a month.
He said with the current rate of unemployment at about 30%, a basic income grant (BIG) would go a long way towards alleviating some of the suffering.
Maseti said a grant would allow many more people to participate in the economy — family members could pool their financial resources to deal with their specific problems, especially in informal settlements, and the very poor and the destitute would have some dignity restored to them.
”I personally think it is an idea whose time has come. BIG must be implemented as soon as possible.”
Two of the most dramatic suggestions to emerge from the BIG conference were that there be no means test attached to the grant and that delivery be facilitated through the use of smart cards and other recent banking innovations.
The conference, which was attended by civil society, government and business organisations, concluded by saying the country could afford a basic income for all without necessitating increased deficit spending. This could be achieved through a number of financing options including slightly higher taxation for those with
more substantial incomes.
Eduardo Matarazzo Suplicy, a senator from Brazil, handed over a letter destined for President Thabo Mbeki outlining his country’s plans for a similar grant to alleviate poverty in his country.
”South Africa has so many problems in common with us. The Congress (in Brazil) is approving a Bill to introduce a grant to those most in need and then they will have access to a modest income,” said Suplicy.
He said it had been ”very encouraging” for him to know that 27 organisations in South Africa had formed a coalition to promote the idea of a basic income for all, especially those in greatest need.
”Both South Africa and Brazil are industrialised, developing nations characterised by huge inequalities with problems of poverty, criminality and violence.”
He said it was anticipated that Brazil would begin paying out grants in 2005.
BIG’s organisers said if the South African government accepted the current proposals, grants could become available two years from now although it could take much longer depending on the political will of the government of the day. – Sapa