"Simply handing out money is not enough. Social Grants must drive employment, not entrench dependency” says Marc Lubner, Executive Chairperson, Afrika Tikkun.

Friday, 7 February 2025, Johannesburg: Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), a leading youth development non-profit organisation (NPO) Afrika Tikkun acknowledges the government's efforts to alleviate poverty through social grants. However, there must be an urgent shift towards grants linked to productive activities, fostering empowerment, employment and national development. Financial support must drive sustainable self-sufficiency, not dependency.

The government currently spends 60% of the national budget on social wages, with more than 28 million South Africans receiving grants. While these grants serve as a lifeline for many, they must not be a long-term substitute for employment opportunities. “Social grants should be tied to meaningful social and economic participation, particularly for unemployed youth,” says Marc Lubner, Executive Chairperson, Afrika Tikkun.

Afrika Tikkun proposes a National Service Programme that engages young people in productive activities aligned with community development and environmental sustainability. Instead of merely distributing grants, the government should introduce initiatives that:

• Encourage youth participation in civic projects – activities such as waste collection, recycling programmes and infrastructure maintenance could provide both valuable work experience and social impact.
• Introduce part-time employment models linked to grants – even two to three days of work per week would not only offer dignity and purpose but also contribute to economic activity.
• Align social grants with skills development – grant recipients could be incentivised to participate in training programmes, entrepreneurship initiatives, or apprenticeships, ultimately transitioning them from dependency to self-sufficiency.

"Giving out money without an expected response or contribution is not sustainable. We should be empowering young people by integrating grants with opportunities for national service or community-based employment," says Lubner.

President Ramaphosa rightly emphasised the importance of providing pathways out of poverty rather than simply sustaining poverty. Afrika Tikkun call on government to streamline social protection initiatives and ensure that beneficiaries have access to integrated support, including:

• Easier access to training, job search assistance and work-readiness programmes.
• A structured approach to public employment that is scalable and measurable.
• A clear transition plan from social grants to sustainable livelihoods.

“Social grants must be a stepping stone, not a permanent solution. The future of South Africa depends on mobilising our youth, investing in skills development and creating opportunities that restore dignity through work.” Lubner adds that a nation cannot prosper when millions are dependent on government aid without a clear plan to integrate them into the economy. “Social grants should be part of a broader, structured initiative that uplifts, trains and empowers our people.”

Afrika Tikkun stands ready to continue its 30-year legacy of creating holistic development and sustainable impact and is committed to partnering with government and Corporate South Africa to create a more inclusive, proactive approach to poverty reduction and youth employment.

For more information, visit www.AfrikaTikkun.org.