Unemployment grant claims rubbished

The Department of Social Development has dismissed a report that unemployed South Africans would receive a monthly grant of R1 420.

Durban - A recent article blog by NewsSA claiming that a monthly grant of R1 420 will be given to unemployed South Africans between the ages of 19 and 59 was rubbished by the Department of Social Development (DSD) on Wednesday.

“Government is planning to introduce social assistance to unemployed South Africans between the ages of 19 and 59 who do not receive support from government,” read the NewSA article.

They also stated that the DSD had stated this week that people will start receiving a grant in mid 2017 because the government wants to ensure that unemployed people in this age group are able to put food on the table every day..

“This claim is false. The department has not made any pronouncement to this effect,” the Department said in a statement.

The statement also read that the Minister of Finance, Pravin Gordhan, in his budget speech had committed government to releasing the discussion paper on comprehensive social security reforms by mid-year.

“Government has examined many international good practices‚ with a view to move to a new social security dispensation in our country. This will ensure that we achieve adequate social security coverage for all within reasonable cost constraints.

“Milestones in this process will be communicated by government in due course‚” the department said.

The news of the hoax unemployment grant got South Africans talking on twitter, some, expressing that they don’t see the idea of granting unemployed people a monthly income a good idea considering the state of this county’s economy.

“How nice…we gonna pay more taxes to fund this new youth unemployment grant… what a great way to divert from the actual problem,” @NwabisaWhy said on Twitter.

@KagisoJeff stated that the government will be spending billions of rands a month on these grants, “if this unemployment grant thing is to go on the government will spend about R12 billion a month.”

However, some people thought that the idea of such a grant was good and should be considered.

“I am glad an unemployment grant is in the works. The irony is people often don’t look for work because they can’t afford to,” said @dlmza.

“The unemployment grant should be for people with higher education qualifications who are struggling to find jobs,” @IamLuckyKunene commented.

IOL MOJO