Ramaphosa scrapping of social grant claims 'irresponsible'

This is the view of Advocate Paul Hoffman, who is with civil rights initiative Accountability Now.

His remarks come after the ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa said should the ANC lose power in the 2024 elections, some initiatives, such as social grants and Nsfas funding, may be scrapped.

Ramaphosa made the remarks on Monday during the party's 112th birthday celebrations in Mbombela.

Hoffman says the constitution requires the government to provide appropriate social assistance to anyone who is unable to support themselves and their dependents.

"The constitution itself, and in particular the Bill of Rights, which is chapter 2 of the constitution, makes it very clear that any government, whether it is the ANC or a part of the ANC, would be obliged to look after those who are in need of social grants and help those who cannot afford their own tertiary education.”

Hoffman says people should not vote based on their fears.

"It is indeed time for South African voters to vote with their heads rather than with their fears. Logically speaking it is not true that it is because of the ANC that the state has been able to improve the lives of some people since 1994. It is the state itself which has been able to generate sufficient income to bring about the improvement that occured."

Meanwhile, the DA says social grants will be the next critical service to collapse in the hands of the ANC.

DA leader John Steenhuisen says Ramaphosa's claims reek of desperation.

"As the money runs out, the ANC has already been forced to cut the budget for critical services like education and healthcare. In fact, due to incessant ANC looting, Ramaphosa’s government is already dismantling social grants. The child support grant – which accounts for 71% of all expenditure on grants – has dramatically declined in real terms over the past decade.”

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