South Africa\u2019s ruling African National Congress, which is gearing up to contest elections later this year, said the extension of a monthly welfare grant is non-negotiable, and the required funding must be allocated in the February budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government first introduced a R350 temporary monthly stipend to cushion the vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic and has since extended it several times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said funds would be made available to ensure it continues until at least the end of March 2025, but he stopped short of committing to funding a permanent income grant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhether the ANC will then take a decision in terms of it becoming a basic income grant will come later<\/strong>,\u201d Mmamoloko Kubayi, the party\u2019s economic policy head, said in an interview in the eastern city of Mbombela on Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor now, the extension of the grant is non-negotiable<\/strong> because while it is relatively small, it has provided a lifeline to those living in poverty-stricken areas and has staved off malnutrition,” she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ANC, which is commemorating the 112th anniversary of its founding this week, has governed Africa\u2019s most industrialized economy since White-minority rule ended in 1994. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The upcoming election is poised to be the party\u2019s toughest yet, with several opinion polls showing it risks losing its national majority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The party won\u2019t put undue pressure on Godongwana, but the budget has to reflect its priorities, according to Kubayi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have never taken reckless decisions in election years. I don\u2019t think we will start today,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n She called for an end to programs that were ineffective and failed to spend their budgetary allocations, adding that the money should instead be used for infrastructure and other initiatives that couldn\u2019t afford cutbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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