Social grants an investment in human capital
Social grants are helping transform the lives of the disadvantaged
The progress and development of social grant beneficiaries is proof that South African taxpayers are making a vital contribution to disadvantaged communities in the country.
This is according to Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini speaking at an event recently that honoured social grant beneficiaries who produced outstanding matric results in 2017.
She said the learners’ success is proof that the grant money that comes from South African taxes is having a positive impact on the lives of the country’s children.
In the 2017/18 financial year, the Department of Social Department received a budget of R160 billion. Of this, R151 billion went directly to the social assistance programme which the South Africa Social Security Agency (Sassa) oversees.
Investing in human capital
Dlamini reiterated that social grants are an investment in the human capital of the country and contribute positively to the education of our young citizens.
The Minister was particularly proud that four of the country’s top achievers in the 2017 matric exams were social grant beneficiaries.
“We are also very pleased with those who did exceptionally well and have special needs; they have succeeded against all odds and we are celebrating their achievements,” she said.
Data from 2017 shows that
79.9 percent of the learners who wrote the matric final exams were grant beneficiaries and 5 016 received bachelor passes while 5 997 achieved diploma passes. A further 2 863 achieved higher certificate passes and there were a total of 500 distinctions.
Minister Dlamini also announced
that over 14 000 social grant beneficiaries have been awarded bursaries from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to further their education at universities and Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges.
“It is important for young people to break the cycle of poverty in their families by focusing on education. Their achievements will inspire their peers and any other social grant beneficiaries,” said Minister Dlamini.
Making dreams come true
Tumelo Mashigo said if it was not for the assistance of Sassa, his dreams would not have come true.
The young man was born with phocomelia, a rare birth defect and has underdeveloped hands.
Growing up with this condition did not deter Mashigo but instead gave him the fighting spirit needed to make something of his life. His determination paid off as he was the second best performing learner with special needs in the matric class of 2017.
With three distinctions on his matric certificate,
Mashigo has been accepted by the University of Pretoria to study Public Management and International Relations.
“My mother is unemployed and from a young age I have been getting a disability grant from Sassa which had a huge impact on my family.”
He said the grant helped his mom care for him by giving her the means to put food on the table and buy the things he needed for school.
“I am very grateful to Sassa and the South African Government for ensuring that my life continues to progress,” he said.
The 18-year-old lives in Tsakane in Gauteng and completed his matric at the Muriel Brand School in Brakpan which caters for learners with special education needs. He was also the school’s deputy head boy.
Future leaders
As for his future, Mashigo said:“I have an interest in politics and helping people. I see myself as a leader and I hope that one day I will be the president of South Africa.”
He added that it is not how you start a journey but how you end it.
Another 18-yearold, Lutendo Makonano,
also experienced many challenges. Her mother is unemployed and is dependant on her social grant for an income.
Makonano completed her matric at the Thohoyandou Secondary School in Limpopo, passing with six distinctions in Tshivenda, life sciences, life orientation, mathematics, geography and physical science.
She is furthering her studies in nursing and was accepted at the University of Johannesburg, Witwatersrand and the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
“I am very passionate about helping other people, especially in my community. I know what it’s like to go to bed without food. I understand what poverty looks like,”she said.
Makonano added that growing up in poverty was hard but she was thankful for the social grant that she received from Sassa.
“The child support grant gave me a stepping stone; it is now up to me to empower myself by making sure that I do well education wise. I want to make my family proud and perform very well in university.”
She advised the class of 2018 to focus and study hard as this would ensure that they become better people in the future.
“They must always remember that education is the key to success,” said Makonano.