New party BIG SA: Guaranteed basic income for adult SAns a long-term plan

JOHANNESBURG - Political party Basic Income Grant South Africa (BIG SA) described its plan to introduce a guaranteed basic income for South Africans older than 18 years old as a long-term one.

The party is proposing that everyone aged between 18 and 25 receive R1,500 a month and those older than 26 receive R3,500. 

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It said this would cost government about R1.25 trillion a year, which is more than the country’s entire GDP for the last quarter of 2023. 

BIG SA said it would fund its universal basic income grant with an additional sales tax. 

However, the party admitted that with a diminishing tax base and inflation, adding another tax on burdened taxpayers was a hard sell. 

Party leader Hendrick Kekana said they were confident that eventually, their plan would succeed. 

"We're going to surprise a number of people, but as time goes on. We are in it for the long-term. We want to be around for 50, 60, 70 years. Hopefully, the younger people can take the baton and run with it."

BIG SA will be participating in its first elections in 2024, contesting only in Gauteng.