Black Sash urges government to tackle corruption for better social grants

THE government can still afford to pay social grants for the unemployed despite the US's 30% tariffs on local exports, which could result in the country shedding 300000 jobs and losing billions of rand in tax revenue.

- BONGANI HANS

Human rights advocacy group Black Sash said the government should stop corruption to afford social grants that are above the poverty line.

The group commented after the Free Market Foundation criticised the government for what it described as making the grants a permanent income generation for the unemployed instead of providing skills and creating job opportunities for young people.

Black Sash said the country’s money has been spent irresponsibly.

“We just need to tighten where we think we are losing money, such as corruption, so that we can redirect the money to the basic services rather than to say there is no money because of the tariffs,” said Black Sash spokesperson Oliver Meth.

Meth said the government should focus on creating job opportunities for young people.

He said it was unjustifiable to say the country would run into bankruptcy if there was no money coming from another country.

“There is a lot of money in this country, but it's just that it's not directed to the right responsibility,” said Meth.