Government must be your sugar daddy: Malema says social grants should be increased

EFF leader Julius Malema has promised a raft of measures to tackle the challenges facing young South Africans, including support for unemployed graduates, while arguing that the current social grants, particularly the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, are not enough.

Speaking at the party’s provincial manifesto launch in the North West on Saturday, Malema addressed the issue of social security, stating that the current grant amounts are insufficient for survival given the rising cost of living.

We do not want the SRD grant just to be permanent, but we want it to increase, because what can one buy with R350? We want the money to increase, but it must only be given to people who have no income.

Malema assured voters that no political party has the legal right to revoke Sassa grants, and pledged that the EFF would ensure these income sources remain in place for millions of households. He further proposed that the government should take on a provider role for those without employment.

The government must be your sugar daddy. The government must either give you jobs or give you an allowance.

In addition to increasing existing grants to a starting point of R4,500, Malema outlined plans for the youth. He stated, “We want graduates to be employed; if they are not given jobs, they must be given a graduate allowance.”