Cape Town – The president of the ANC Youth League (ANCYL), Collen Malatji, has called for the South African government to provide a monthly stipend of R4 500 to unemployed graduates.
He made this proposal over the weekend, during the ANCYL’s 79th-anniversary event in Mpumalanga, even though the National Treasury has expressed concerns about the country’s financial constraints due to growing debt.
“We are calling upon the ANC-led government to increase and introduce an unemployment grant. While young people are still looking for opportunities, there must be a grant that is provided for them to be able to move about and look for those opportunities.
ANC Youth League 79 anniversary at Kameel River B Stadium, Mpumalanga. #ancyl79thanniversary #ANCYL79 ⚫️?? https://t.co/q0kL4yRbpJ
— ANCYL (@ANCYLhq) September 10, 2023
“We are saying while we are still looking for opportunities the R350 unemployment grant must be increased to R1 500, until the matter of employment is resolved. Unemployed graduates must be paid R4 500 a month,” Malatji said.
Malatji’s proposal coincides with a report in the Sunday Times, where Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana expressed worries about the government’s financial challenges arising from its increasing debt burden.
The department advised President Cyril Ramaphosa that in order to sustain the R350 grant payments beyond March next year, the government might need to either raise VAT or cut certain state programs to reduce expenditures.
According to Times Live, Deputy President Paul Mashatile recently encouraged young people to consider entrepreneurship as an alternative to traditional employment, while President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the public’s desire for increased support and highlighted the government’s existing social grant programmess.
[WATCH] We have expanded the social grant system in our country. 18 million people now get social grants, and a further 10 million people get the R350 grant from our government. #2019ANCManifestoReview pic.twitter.com/C3RKy07oo4
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Cde Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) September 8, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/@Collen_Malatji3
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu