A basic income grant for South Africa: more money in poor people's pockets, but at a heavy cost

[Cosmik Debris]

It's about 10 million officially unemployed.

The people no longer looking for employment are not in that number.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Yeah, conservative BS is still BS.

So, give the true figure then?

 

[RiaX]

The people no longer looking for employment are not in that number.

15 million are employed out of a population of 60 million. So we have to check retired folk and children.

 

[TheChamp]

So, give the true figure then?

First humble yourself before me and admit you pulled your numbers from your backside, I promise I will give you the correct figure.

 

[Mirai]

Jobs are important not merely to earn a living, but also to keep people busy. Idle hands... as the saying goes. It's important to occupy the population with some purpose, some activity. Ideally the job should also be of benefit to the society, eg produce something of value which benefits people or earns forex. Will a handout taken from the few remaining taxpayers achieve that?

 

[RiaX]

Jobs are important not merely to earn a living, but also to keep people busy. Idle hands... as the saying goes. It's important to occupy the population with some purpose, some activity. Ideally the job should also be of benefit to the society, eg produce something of value which benefits people or earns forex. Will a handout taken from the few remaining taxpayers achieve that?

That's not what we discussing. Our ANC members here disagree with me that south Africans are lazy when it comes to work and employment.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

First humble yourself before me and admit you pulled your numbers from your backside, I promise I will give you the correct figure.

Fsck you mate. Who the fsck do you think you are?

 

[TheChamp]

That's not what we discussing. Our ANC members here disagree with me that south Africans are lazy when it comes to work and employment.

You know people are allowed to comment freely in a thread and not join in on whatever you were discussing? He made a standalone comment, he wasn't replying to anyone, I thought it was a decent comment, not sure why you want to drag him into your fight?

 

[TheChamp]

Fsck you mate. Who the fsck do you think you are?

Do you want the correct figure or not? I don't have all night.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Do you want the correct figure or not? I don't have all night.

Stick it where the sun don't shine. Who cares. SA is stuffed anyway and your type is helping it down the plug hole. Enjoy Wakanda.

 

[Swa]

A proper socialist policy would destroy the country...

Now define "proper". All prospering countries have socialist policies.

 

[f2wohf]

Now define "proper". All prospering countries have socialist policies.

Starting with the US who have a massive disability programme and 40 million + people on food stamps.

 

[brilliantt]

No it should. SA is still missing a social welfare grant. All our grants are circumstances based and not socially based. What people are not understanding is that the money flows back into the economy from a group of people that are currently not contributing to it and living off handouts so it's a burden on someone in any case. Money flowing into the economy gets taxed somewhere as well. The irony is also that the more you extend it the more of it goes to people contributing to the tax base so it does not help to artificially restrict it. For example the guy earning R1m a year would pay back almost half in income tax and not counting the 15% VAT based on spending as well as other indirect taxes. If we say well only those not earning an income gets it then it's still increasing the tax base.

Then there are also the indirect effects like people currently turning to crime to support themselves. In the last 3 years there's been 3 on our property and I've had a cupboard of tools stolen and a tap broken. One of them had a brick ready to break a window into the house. During Covid some used their R350 to start small businesses which are contributing more than what they're taking out. It's erroneous to assume that all money has to come from additional taxes and that none of it will flow back into treasury coffers.

It should be done but it should be done right. First we need to have a growing economy where more people who can are able to support themselves. Then it should replace some of the other grants like the child grant. We should also extend the disability grant as there are people currently not working or that have never entered the job market due to disease yet they don't technically qualify as they aren't seen as disabled. Sadly the ANC has created an environment where it's not possible for them to implement any of this so those that can are circumventing the system to get the existing grants. All I see them doing is extending the R350 grant indefinitely till after the 2024 elections.

Makes sense.

 

[Thugscub]

Half of SA if not more are standing in the give me rows at the end of every month.
Wipe the turd out of your eyes and see the reality.

 

[Oldfut]

I agree hundreds, if not thousands of people apply for "jops". Wekking though is not as popular.

 

[TheChamp]

I agree hundreds, if not thousands of people apply for "jops". Wekking though is not as popular.

Yeah, no one wants to do that, looks like something that would make one look very silly.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Starting with the US who have a massive disability programme and 40 million + people on food stamps.

And a population of 300 million most of whom are employed...

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Yeah, no one wants to do that, looks like something that would make one look very silly.

Correct. Ever seen 15 to dig a hole with only one wekking in the hole?

 

[TheChamp]

Correct. Ever seen 15 to dig a hole with only one wekking in the hole?

No I haven't, I don't prefer mixing with the low IQ type who dig holes, I prefer having meaningful discussions with high IQ people like you on this forum.

 

[Stonemason]

The grant system in South Africa is over-generous leading to a lack of investment in infrastructure. The lack of investment in infrastructure leads to water and electricity shortages, bad transport and medical services and a general decline in government efficiency. This in turn leads to reduced employment which in the government's mind necessitates an increased need for grants. A vicious circle that is destroying the country.

I agree that this is an over-simplification of the problem and that there are many other factors involved. However, the fact is that South Africa's economic woes stems from uninformed idiots in government who formulate policy based on outdated ideology . This includes the policy of bleeding the country dry through a system of grants that is unsustainable.