Elections: Will social grants come to an end if ANC loses power?

ActionSA has labelled President Cyril Ramaphosa’s claims that social grants may come to an end if the ANC loses power in the upcoming elections. 

Speaking at an ANC gathering in Mbombela over the weekend, Ramaphosa warned that initiates like the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) could disappear if the ANC was ousted from government this year. 

WILL SOCIAL GRANTS END IF ANC LOSES POWER? 

Ramaphosa’s comments do not come as a surprise as many political parties will be electioneering, especially the ANC as it is desperate for an outright majority.

“Our policies have been pro-poor. I don’t know of any other country in the continent that has committed itself to 18 million people who receive grants, young and old, as well as an additional 10 million who get grants of R350,” Ramaphosa said.

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Following Ramaphosa’s claim, ActionSA said this type of fear mongering is typical of the ruling party, who are now resorting to outright lies to prevent an electoral loss.

ActionSA spokesperson Lerato Ngobeni said the irony is that it is the ruling party that is unable to expand the social grant as it has over indebted South Africa while its officials stole public money.

“The R350 grant is nothing to celebrate as ActionSA believes the people of South Africa deserve more,” Ngobeni said.

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RULING PARTY NOT LIKELY TO ACHIEVE OUTRIGHT MAJORITY

Many say the 2024 elections are as important as the 1994 elections, which were the country’s first democratic as it turned over a new leaf.

Political analysts and polls have indicated that South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, which has been in power since 1994, will not get above 50% which is needed to win the elections.

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