Leaked Anc Document Supports 'phasing In' Basic Income Grant In 2025
The African National Congress ANC held its annual National Executive Council lekgotla at the end of January, outlining the party's priorities for the year ahead and the five-year term of the administration.
According to a document obtained by GroundUp , at the lekgotla the ANC supported phasing in a Universal Basic Income Support Grant BIG this year, in line with the promises made in the party's election manifesto.
The document states the ANC will "Strengthen income support through existing social grants and use the Social Relief of Distress SRD grants as a mechanism towards phasing in the Basic Income Support Grant this year, as per ANC Manifesto."
Skills development initiatives for SRD grant recipients were also discussed. The ANC proposed working with Sector Education and Training Authorities SETAs to provide targeted skills training for people receiving SRD grants.
But when ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula presented the outcomes of the lekgotla on 28 January, there was no mention of a BIG. The official statement, although focused on economic transformation, poverty alleviation, and unemployment, did not provide any details on the implementation of a BIG.
"The ANC's battle of ideas is about ensuring that the movement's transformative agenda is understood by society and embraced by all sectors, from the poor and working class to the youth and the middle class," Mbalula said in a statement on the lekgotla outcomes. He emphasised the need for the ANC to address the aspirations of South Africans, particularly marginalised people, and to focus on economic transformation, job creation, and improving access to quality services.
The Black Sash has expressed concern at the absence of any reference to a BIG in the official statement. Executive director Rachel Bukasa said, "The ANC's failure to mention BIG in its official media briefing is deeply concerning and suggests a lack of political will to address South Africa's crisis of poverty and unemployment."
The ANC has previously said it supports a BIG, and in its 2024 election manifesto , the ANC said it would strengthen comprehensive social security by "progressively implementing a basic income support grant by extending and improving the value and coverage of the SRD grant for the unemployed".
Black Sash criticised the ANC for failing to follow through on this commitment.
Bukasa said although the ANC has acknowledged the SRD grant as a way to phase in the BIG, the party's proposals are vague, lacking implementation steps and timelines.