I get the feeling I’m going to anger a lot of people again with what I’m about to say.
Social grants is something I’ve always been very uncomfortable about.
In fact, I’m uncomfortable with most government handouts.
Some of them I understand and support, but others just appear to be ways for people to finance their laziness.
I told you I was going to infuriate some of you. But hear me out.
The Sassa debacle of the past few weeks has got me thinking.
I am sad for the millions of people who may not get their grants in two weeks’ time.
I have been following the stories and to be honest with you, it sounds to me like someone is playing politics with people’s livelihoods.
Just think about it for moment.
Bathabile Dlamini is the Minister of Social Development. All she has to do is to manage and develop our social fabric.
That is literally her only function.
She has dozens of staff that she delegates responsibilities to, so she doesn’t have to do any of the dirty work herself.
All she has to do as political head, is to manage the strategies of her department.
I’m simplifying it, of course, but I imagine that in such a position, you would keep your eye on those items that affect the most people, especially if there’s a crisis looming.
So, of course, the question is how it got to this point to begin with. But that’s not a question that’s going to help anyone.
The fact is, government is not going to allow 17 million citizens to go without their sole source of income on April 1.
They will make those payments happen by hook or by crook. And, sadly, it’s probably going to be by crook.
And that’s because there are far too many votes at stake.
The ANC is going to apply whatever pressure they have to apply to make sure the social grant payouts happen.
And there will be speeches and statements from Jacob Zuma and others telling us what a great job they did.
Heads will not roll.
And months from now, we will learn exactly how many strings were pulled and millions lost to make sure the payments happen.
So for all of you concerned about your Sassa grants at the end of the month, don’t worry.
And that includes the institutions that rely on Sassa grants to continue operating, like old age homes, frail care facilities, orphanages and mental health facilities.
And that brings me back to where I started.
It’s institutions like those that I understand and respect. They do amazing work and our society is so much better because of them.
But let’s be honest with ourselves, there are some social grant recipients that crook the system and use the money to help them laze around at home.
The other day someone sent me a video of a guy who has no arms.
He uses his feet to build beautiful toys for kids and when he takes a break, he uses his feet to enjoy a cup of tea.
He may well be an exceptional human being, but he also proves that old saying about where there’s a will, there’s a way.
And not forgetting the story of rather teaching a man to fish.
So perhaps this time of uncertainty was a wonderful opportunity for some recipients to think about their dependency on social grants.
I’m especially talking to those who have other incomes as well.
And those who are able to do something to earn a living, instead of sitting at home and waiting for your next Sassa payday.
There are people out there who need the money a lot more than you, and they probably find other ways to survive.
Like the man with no arms. If he can earn a living, then so can you.
You know who you are.