Official reply:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION 1969/2013
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
Date of publication on internal question paper: 02 August 2013
Internal question paper no: 24
1969. Mrs J D Kilian (Cope) to ask the Minister of Social Development:
(1) What is the ratio of social grant payments in respect of South
African citizens to noncitizens;
(2) (a) what amounts have been paid out in social grants to (i) South
African citizens and (ii) noncitizens in the (aa) 2010-11, (bb) 2011-
12 and (cc) 2012-13 financial years and (b) how is this trend
projected to impact on her department's ability to sustain the social
grant system in future? NW2323E
Reply:
(1) It should be noted that access to social assistance is a right
guaranteed by our Constitution. Affordability and sustainability were
considered when the policy changes, such as extending provision of
this form of assistance to non South African citizens, were
implemented.
The extension of social assistance to all people who live in South
Africa (and not only restricted to South African citizens) has been
progressively implemented, in compliance with various judgements made
by the High Court. For example, the progressive extension of all
social grants, including social relief of distress, to refugees was
implemented following a legal challenge by the Scalabrini Centre,
acting together with the Legal Resources Centre.
Social grants, including social relief of distress, are paid to South
African citizens, permanent residents and refugees who live in South
Africa. The only exception to this is that we pay social assistance
to South African citizens who reside in Walvis Bay, Namibia, in
accordance with the Bilateral Agreement signed on 19 April 1994
between the two countries, when Walvis Bay was incorporated into
Namibia.
As at 31 March 2013, a total of 43 588 social grants were paid to
permanent residents and 5 141 to refugees out of a total of 16 048 879
grants paid. Both permanent residents and refugees are non-South
Africa citizens.
This means that, of the grants paid, 0,27% were paid to permanent
residents and 0,03% to refugees. The total number of grants paid to
non-South African citizens is thus 0,30%, while 99,7% are paid to
South African citizens.
(2) (a) The amounts paid to South African citizens and non-citizens
(both permanent residents and refugees) in the years identified are
indicated below:
South African citizens: (i) (aa) 2010/11 R87 249 837 840
(i) (bb) 2011/12 R95 687 378 340
(i) (cc) 2012/13 R103 553 401 560
Non citizens (ii) (aa) 2010/11 R243 068 160
(ii) (bb) 2011/12 R275 763 660
(ii) (cc) 2012/13 R335 554 440
The amount paid has consistently been approximately 3% of the total.
(b) As can be seen from the above, the actual percentage of grants
which are paid to non-citizens is much less than 1%. The growth
over the past 3 financial years has been very slow â in 2010/11 it was
0,2607%; in 2011/12 it increased marginally to 0,2608% and then to
0,30% in 2012/13.
The increase in the latter year was as a result of the change in
legislation which allowed refugees access to all the social grant
types. The amount paid to non-citizens has consistently been
approximately 3% of the total budget spent on social grants. However,
it is not believed that the numbers will grow significantly, so as to
affect the sustainability of the grant system.