Godongwana’s budget speech - walking the tight rope of Social Grants

In the budget speech on 22 February 2023, Minister Finance Godongwana warns of tax hike if calls for basic income grant persist. “I’m not raising taxes this year but next year is a different ball game. I’ll raise taxes for different reasons; there’s always a warning which we did in February last year, we’re repeating that warning.” “For argument's sake, let’s say we want to increase the R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant or improve it and make it a basic income grant … you must also know you’re calling for me to tax you more.” Godongwana said he has set aside R36bn to extend the payment of the SRD grant to March 2024.

In spite of this threat, Godongwana increased the child support grant by 5% (below inflation) to R505 per month and old age and disability grants to R2,085 per month. He also allocated  R23 billion and R22 billion will be allocated to health and basic education respectively, to cover the shortfall in budgets and to improve services.

But do social grants really work?

Social grants are government-provided financial transfers to individuals in need, such as those living in poverty, disabled individuals, and elderly citizens. The aim of these grants is to provide a safety net for those who are struggling and to reduce poverty and inequality. However, the success and impact of social grants is a topic of debate, with opinions varying on whether they are effective in achieving their goals and whether they have unintended consequences for individuals and society.

In terms of their success, there is evidence that social grants have made a positive impact in reducing poverty and increasing the well-being of recipients in many countries. For example, in South Africa, the introduction of the Child Support Grant in 1998 was associated with a decrease in child poverty, improved health outcomes for children, and increased enrolment in school. In Brazil, the Bolsa Familia program has been credited with reducing poverty and improving social indicators such as education and health outcomes.

However, there is also evidence that social grants can have unintended consequences and not always achieve their goals. For example, in some countries, social grants may disincentivize work, leading to increased unemployment among recipients. While these grants are intended to provide a safety net for those in need, they may discourage individuals from seeking employment or working more hours, as they may lose their eligibility for the grant. This can lead to a dependency culture, where individuals become reliant on the grant as their main source of income, which can be harmful for their long-term financial stability.

There is also debate over whether social grants are good for citizens and society as a whole. Social grants provide a crucial safety net for those in need, helping to reduce poverty and inequality, and improve the well-being of recipients. South Africa has one of the largest measures of inequity in earnings in the world as measured by the Gini co-efficient (currently 63) particularly if the unemployed are included in the measure  Social grants can also have a positive impact on the economy by increasing consumer spending and boosting demand for goods and services.

However, there are concerns that social grants may be subject to corruption and mismanagement, with a portion of the funds not reaching the intended recipients. This is a real concern in South Africa as was witnessed by the large-scale corruption with Covid relief. This can reduce the impact of the grants and undermine public trust in the government and the grant program. Furthermore, there may be concerns that social grants create a culture of dependence, where individuals become reliant on the government for support and do not seek employment or work to improve their financial situation.

It is also worth noting that social grants may not be a sustainable solution for reducing poverty and inequality. In many countries, the cost of providing social grants is increasing as the population ages and unemployment numbers grow and more individuals become eligible for support. This can put a strain on government budgets and may lead to reductions in other critical areas, such as education and health. Therefore, while social grants can be an effective tool in reducing poverty and inequality in the short term, it is important to consider long-term solutions, such as job creation and economic growth, to address these issues.

In conclusion, social grants are a complex and controversial topic, with opinions varying on their success and impact. While they can provide a crucial safety net for those in need and improve the well-being of recipients, they can also have unintended consequences and not always achieve their goals. It is important to carefully consider the pros and cons of social grants and to ensure that they are implemented in a manner that is effective, efficient, and equitable. Ultimately, the success of social grants depends on several factors, including the design and implementation of the grant program, the broader economic and social context, and the level of corruption and mismanagement.

This article is based on research conducted by 21st Century, one of the largest remuneration consultancies in Africa. Please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for any further information.

Written by: Chris Blair, B.Sc. Chem. Eng., MBA – Leadership & Sustainability, CEO of 21st Century, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About 21st Century:
21st Century, a level 2 BBBEE company, is one of the largest Remuneration, Reward, HR, Organisation Development and Change Management consultancies in Africa, specialising in sustainable business solutions, with a team of more than 60 skilled specialists, servicing over 1700 clients – including non-profit organisations, unlisted companies, government, parastatals and over two-thirds of the companies listed on the JSE. 21st Century offers bespoke business and strategy planning services, operating model and organisational design, creative reward practice modelling, change, stakeholder and culture management, training courses and comprehensive human capital and talent plans. These are all underpinned by our analytic and survey capability tailored to the African environment. 21st Century continues to offer solutions via a combination of virtual channels and on-site presence. 

21st Century has expanded its services to offer a full turnkey sustainable business and remuneration service. Beyond remuneration and reward consulting, 21st Century offers local analytics for business advantage; remuneration and HR training; change management services; talent and people solutions; and end-to-end organisational design and development.

21st Century is the Africa representative for the GECN group of companies, specialists in global executive remuneration and governance.

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