Social Development says work on Basic Income Grant policy has been ongoing

CAPE TOWN - The Department of Social Development says work on the Basic Income Grant (BIG) policy has been ongoing, with the first draft of the policy having been presented to the Cabinet.

The department briefed Parliament’s Social Development portfolio committee on progress made in the development of the basic income support policy, which has the support of most parties.

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Cabinet has also directed that further consultations on the policy be held with other departments, focusing on the affordability of the policy and how to link proposed beneficiaries with economic opportunities and employment.

The Department’s deputy director-general, Brenda Sibeko, said, "So the idea is that as we finalise the policy on basic income support we’re also improving on those other elements, so that people are not only going to be living on this basic income support, but there are other opportunities for them to come out of poverty beyond just relying on the grant."