Deputy Chairperson, South Africa's population is estimated to have increased to 57,73 million in 2018, and 30,4 people are still living in poverty, 43,5% of these people are children who are living below the median income per capita. It is also estimated that social grants will grow to 18,1 million
beneficiaries by the end of March 2022. Social assistance is currently budgeted for 175 billion for 2019-20 and this includes grant for old age, war veterans, disability, foster care, care dependency, child support, grant-in-aid and social relief of distress. While it is commendable that we should look after our vulnerable in society, it remains extremely concerning that so many people depend on this social grants and there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel in terms of sustainable jobs.
Furthermore, for many South Africans, the SA Social Security Agency, Sassa, grant means the difference between putting food on the table and going hungry, yet over the years there has been technical clichs which have hit many recipients of the grant very hard. While the transition from Cash Paymaster Services, CPS, to the SA Post Office has been implemented, it has not been without problems. Many recipients complained about the distance from post offices in rural areas, where taxi fare is expensive, and many have no choice, but to make use of these services. Where shops have been identified in certain areas to assist with payments, these charges have been extremely high, and many people cannot afford to pay the levy the shops are charging. Adding to this dilemma is the delay in appointing enough doctors to evaluate the disability grants, and
this has meant that many disabled people are still without their grants for months at a time, waiting to be attended to by doctors.
It is imperative that we continue working hard to improve the conditions of South Africans. The DA supports this budget; however, as our country's people remain in social distress, it is extremely concerning. South Africa's unemployment rate stands at 29% as at this morning news report, the worst since 2008. Thank you.
Before we continue, I have noticed that there was a member that entered the House. According to the Rules of this legislature, each province delegates members to participate in the debate. The names from the Western Cape are the hon B Schafer, the hon D Bartman and the hon M Wenga. I would want to be informed whether the member that just entered now is one of three members.