3 days ago
- Business
- The South African
DSD briefs parliament on basic income support policy
The Department of Social Development aims to provide basic income support for citizens between the ages of 18-59. During a briefing with the Portfolio Committee on Social Development, DSD updated parliament on the progress of the development of the Basic Income Support Policy.
'Work on the policy has been ongoing, with the first draft of the policy having been presented to the Social Protection, Community and Human Development Cluster Cabinet Committee on 26 November 2024', said DSD spokesperson, Bathembu Futshane.
The committee raised that more consultations were needed in order to discus the policy. It was further suggested that meetings should be held with internal stakeholders. The meeting would focus on the affordability of the policy and linkages of its proposed beneficiaries with economic opportunities.
An interdepartmental workshop was held in order to communicate the directive of collaboration. According to Futshane, the workshop affirmed the need to link the policy's beneficiaries to other employment and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
'A follow up workshop will be held in June 2025. Followed by bilateral engagements with the Presidency, the Department of Labour and National Treasury', said Futshane.
He said once the consultations are concluded, DSD will approach the SPCHD Cabinet Committee in the second Quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. They will request cabinet to consider the revised policy. Once the policy is approved, it will be published for public comments.
Futshane said that in order to ensure stability during the consultation period, the department will consult National Treasury for the R370 Social Relief of Distress grant be extended. The grant will remain in place until the legislative process is complete.
Beneficiaries will be protected from extreme poverty and vulnerability while they wait for the policy to come into effect.
'The Department, has for the interim, been granted an extension by the National Treasury to continue with this provision for the 2025/26 financial year', concluded Futshane.
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