A TEN RAND JUST FALLS TOO FAR SHORT

In Pietermaritzburg most of the pension payout points are accessible through public transport, and if not, people have to walk considerable distances in order to access them. A taxi fare from Greater Edendale Mall to Sinamuva Primary School in Imbali Township which is about a kilometre away is R10. If a pensioner has to go to town, they must pay a R20 single or R40 return for the trip. We are now in the third month since municipalities introduced increases in the water and electricity tariffs. These are important points to factor in when responding to the R10 social grant increases.

As we point out in the September food affordability index, the National Minimum Wage currently stands at R27,58 an hour and R220,64 for an 8-hour day. In September 2024, with 20 working days, the maximum National Minimum Wage for a General Worker is R4 412,80. This when compared to the R3 692,09 price of a basic nutritional food basket for a family of four persons in September 2024 clearly illustrates how low -income earning workers are battling to make ends meet.

There is also a misguided conception that all employers abide by the country’s labour laws and actually pay the minimum wage. The reality of the situation is that it is becoming increasingly harder for both low- income earning workers, and social grants recipients to look after their families. Social grants are meant to assist the most economically vulnerable members of our society, and the reality is that the R10 increase just falls far too short when compared with living costs. As Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, we are of the view that there is a need for a bold and courageous step on the part of the government to make an intervention whose impact will be visible and be in line with living costs.