Fear of losing social grants not a major influence on how beneficiaries will vote

JOHANNESBURG - A recent study on voter choice suggests that the fear of losing social grants is not a major influence on how beneficiaries will vote in two weeks' time.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Centre for Social Development in Africa released its research ahead of the national and provincial elections.

Earlier this year, African National Congress (ANC) president, Cyril Ramaphosa, faced criticism after suggesting that social grants might be scrapped if the ANC loses power.

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In 1994, the South African government paid social grants to about 2.5 million South Africans.

Thirty years later, more than 28 million people rely on monthly grants.

Opposition parties, like the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), have both promised to increase social grants, with the latter promising to double the amount.

Lead researcher at the Centre for Social Development in Africa, Leila Patel, said this could be the reason grant recipients weren’t afraid of supporting an opposition party.

"So, I think there is a greater sense of comfort and security in the grant system itself and they will not lose it. So linked to that, we see that more grant recipients, 55% of them, are now voting for an opposition party."

The Social Relief of Distress Grant, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, has seen young and unemployed people forming part of SASSA’s database.