by BIG Coalition l 07 Mar 2005

A BIG Tip for Trevor

In the run-up to the Minister of Finance's annual budget speech on 23 February, the BIG Coalition conducted a post card campaign to demand official action on a BIG. Presently, there are few meaningful opportunities for civil society organisations and the electorate to influence decisions about how public resources are allocated. Even Parliament, the "Voice of the People" has no power to amend the national budget. Instead, the Minister of Finance, Trevor Manuel, invites citizens to send suggestions directly to him, a programme known as "Tips for Trevor".

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by BIG Coalition l 22 Feb 2004

Citizen’s income: Brazil’s will and wisdom

“The world is watching Brazil. With great interest. With great hopes. With some apprehension.” So writes Philippe Van Parijs, secretary of the Basic Income European Network (BIEN), and a professor at the University of Louvain. Here is a summary of his article in January 2004.

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by BIG Coalition l 15 Nov 2003

Parliament Considers Social Security Legislation

It will be essential for the administration of a BIG that government has the commitment and capacity for excellent service delivery. Parliament is currently considering two bills that are fundamental to this process, the Social Assistance Bill and the South African Social Security Agency Bill.

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by BIG Coalition l 22 Sep 2003

Chilling Findings of PLAAS Chronic Poverty Study

The Programme for Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), based at the University of the Western Cape is researching chronic poverty in South Africa. Chronic poverty is defined as long durational poverty that is experienced by households, families and communities. PLAAS is conducting in-depth field research in both rural areas - Mount Frere in the Eastern Cape and Ceres in the Western Cape and urban areas - Khayelitsha in the Western Cape.

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by BIG Coalition l 08 Aug 2003

Cabinet Lekgotla

Following the 23-25 July Cabinet lekgotla, President Mbeki announced a renewed emphasis on poverty alleviation, focusing on expanded public works programmes and improved access to social grants.

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by BIG Coalition l 03 Jun 2003

Success of GDS Depends on Action on Social Protection

The Growth and Development Summit (GDS) scheduled for 7 June 2003 will bring together the four constituencies represented in the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) -- government, labour, business and community -- to identify ways to accelerate sustainable growth and development in South Africa.

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by BIG Coalition l 09 May 2003

State of the Nation Promises New Action on Poverty, Jobs

On 14 February, President Thabo Mbeki delivered his annual State of the Nation address. The government claims that the public spending limitations imposed by its economic strategy (GEAR) have put South Africa on the road to long-term economic stability, making increased social expenditure affordable.

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by BIG Coalition l 09 May 2003

"Extend CSG to 18!" ACESS Tells ANC Conference

Chanting and wearing T-shirts with a large "18" on the front, over 500 members of the Alliance for Children's Entitlement to Social Security (ACESS) gathered outside the ANC National Conference in Stellenbosch on 16 December to call for the extension of the child support grant to 18 years as the first phase of a Basic Income Grant (BIG) for everyone.

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by BIG Coalition l 09 May 2003

Civil Society Leaders Meeting

On 30 November, BIG Coalition leaders met in Johannesburg to review strategy on the eve of the ANC National Conference (16-20 December). The summit welcomed several aspects of the discussion documents prepared for the Conference, including calls for the introduction of a comprehensive social security system and for greater engagement with civil society. It noted that the BIG was consistent with the principles underlying government’s approach to social protection and poverty eradication. Participants underscored the developmental nature of the BIG and its capacity to promote self-reliance. They also contrasted the BIG with the DA's fundamentally flawed "dole" proposal, which would effectively penalise people for earning additional income.

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by BIG Coaltion l 08 May 2003

Political Developments

The African National Congress convened a national policy conference in preparation for its 51st National Conference, to be held in Stellenbosch in mid-December. Whilst stopping short of endorsing the BIG, the policy conference concluded that "the Taylor report provides a basis for the development of ... a social security policy." It "call[ed] on government to continue with plans towards a comprehensive social security system."

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by BIG Coalition l 07 May 2003

Political Developments

In late July, the Cabinet considered the Taylor report and the associated submissions at its semi-annual lekgotla. At the conclusion of the meeting, the government indicated that it had not reached a final decision on the Report's recommendations. However, the BIG Coalition found the Cabinet's statement encouraging in two respects. First, the government has taken seriously the Report's call for the extension of the Child Support Grant (CSG), which the Committee saw as the first phase in the progressive roll-out of a BIG. The Cabinet indicated that it would assess the efficacy of increasing the maximum age of eligibility for CSG benefits (which currently expire when a child turns seven). The BIG Coalition urged the government to consider not only the extension of the CSG to older children, but also the abolition of the means test, which is costly to administer and often prevents the poorest families from accessing the grant.

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by BIG Coalition l 07 May 2003

The Basic Income Grant: A Short History

The idea of a universal social grant has been growing in popularity for a number of years. In 1997, the government's White Paper on Social Welfare concluded, "all South Africans [should] have a minimum income, sufficient to meet basic subsistence needs, and should not have to live below minimum acceptable standards." Labour proposed the introduction of a universal income support grant at the 1998 Presidential Job Summit. By the end of 2000, the concept was independently endorsed in one form or another by the Black Sash, the Anglican Church, ESSET, SANE and YCW. The BIG Coalition was formed in June 2001 to co-ordinate the efforts of these groups, to develop a common platform, and to build popular support for the grant.

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