Social grants under fire
Swartland anti-racism debate focuses on need for jobs and better education
FRIDAY MARCH 18 2016
‘THE GOVERNMENT must provide jobs, (not) give us social grants, so that we can work on a sustainable infrastructure that would benefit future generations,” said Darling resident Lance Florence.
Florence was speaking at an anti-racism dialogue in the Swartland Local Municipality yesterday, hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport .
Thirty-three workshops were held across the country to understand the factors that hindered social cohesion in society. The discussions come as the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa launched its AntiRacism Week on Monday.
Residents were split into groups and asked to brainstorm the issues they faced and their solutions.
On presenting his views to the people BRIGHT FUTURES? Swartland municipality residents Lavenda Pietersen, Patricia Solomons, Edwardo de Wee, Ingrid Meintjies and Ian Nero participated in the debate which is part of the anti-racism campaign. MBOLO gathered at the Westbank Civic Centre, Florence said: “Social grants are a disadvantage because young girls are falling pregnant instead of improving their education or working.
“What are they actually learning? Do not just give us grants, give us jobs.”
The 24-year-old said young men, especially, were being lured into a life of crime because they were burdened with heading mainly overcrowded households and were not provided with alternatives.
He said an environment not conducive to social development produced a generation of uneducated youth, which continued a vicious cycle.
Edwardo de Wee, 21, said petty crime, rape and murder were issues in the Swartland Local Municipality: “The youth perpetuate age abuse. Age abuse is when the youth abuse and steal from the elderly.”
He said child drop-outs were also a challenge as peer pressure and teenage pregnancy were rife in the area.
The groups that were asked to present their views in the exercise conceded that the onus for change fell on the communities and the government.
Spokeswoman for the Department Cultural Affairs and Sport, Tania Colyn, said: “The department supports these conversations by engaging community members on issues that are pertinent to them. “This allows us an opportunity to encourage social inclusion and to hear about issues affecting our communities first-hand from the people in the community.
“The issues that are raised here will go into a national report to be tabled by the cabinet.” Last year, Independent Media ( IM) launched its # Racism StopsWithMe campaign.
IM is in partnership with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, the Fibre Processing Seta and Sekunjalo Investments Holdings in the campaign.
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