Free Republic

South Africa can expect roughly 44% of its population (28.7 million) on social grants, relying on only 12% (7.4 million) taxpayers. This imbalance between the number of grant recipients and taxpayers highlights a significant concern for the nation’s fiscal health, as nearly half of South Africa’s 64 million people depend on social assistance. The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) data for 2023/24 underlines the scale of reliance, which includes a range of grants for elderly people, children, disabled individuals, and others in need. Moreover, 9 million individuals receive the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, initially introduced in 2020...