BUSISIWE MAVUSO: SA simply cannot afford a BIG
The only way is to accelerate economic growth so as to generate more revenue to allocate to social welfare
Will SA be able to fund a basic income grant (BIG) on a sustainable basis? Given that unemployment in our country has been stubbornly high for years, and that inequality and poverty have been worsening, supporting such a grant in principle is a moral imperative. From a sociopolitical perspective there is a strong argument to be made for the implementation of a BIG, but from a fiscal perspective the situation is complex.
As I wrote last week, Business Leadership SA (BLSA) has been commissioning research and developing strategies to address SA’s most pressing problem areas, and investigating the funding of a BIG is one priority. I firmly believe any decision on this type of grant must be based on a meticulous assessment. A report authored by Intellidex and commissioned by Business Unity SA in collaboration with BLSA has fortunately provided more insight into the grant’s sustainability...
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