PII

Tackling poverty & inequality issues with research, policy suggestions and knowledge sharing

[PII @PII_UCT]

The exact conditions for level 4 have not yet been announced. That will happen only next week. Until then, all lists like these are speculation? #SALockdown

[Acclaimed Journalist @Jonathan_Witt]

Level 4

- No alcohol
- No travel
- No retail stores (clothing etc.)
- No hardware
- No car dealers
- No restaurants
- No books/stationery
- No tobacco
- No schools
- No domestic work

[PII @PII_UCT]

Indeed... A great, great disappointment if this turns out to be the case @SALDRU1 @MurrayLeibbrand @VimalRanchhod @RuthHallPLAAS @CIatUCT @GiulesB65 @NomdoChristina

[Josh Budlender @joshbudlender]

Now hearing that the CSG top-up may be per caregiver rather than per child. If this is the case, will substantially change my evaluation of the measures announced on Tuesday. Would mean *much* less money to the poor. But awaiting confirmation.

[PII @PII_UCT]

A great contribution to evidence-informed policy making! Well done colleagues at @SALDRU1 @CIatUCT @PLAASuwc and many others. Next, a basic income grant for South Africa? @ARUA_ACEIR

[Ruth Hall @RuthHallPLAAS]

A massive victory...

Now the question arises: why not universal basic income? And what about foreign migrants who've lost their livelihoods. The goalposts have shifted.

[PII @PII_UCT]

@SALDRU1

[Ruth Hall @RuthHallPLAAS]

Urgent steps to end the Hunger Lockdown:
1. Top up Child Support Grant to get cash to 13mill recipients
2. Remove SA ID requirement for distress relief
3. Get police, army to help distribute food
4. Food vouchers redeemable at spazas, street vendors
https://t.co/QTTaTLFmNA

[PII @PII_UCT]

The CSG has biggest reach of all grants; reaches poorest households; thus the most effective to reach unemployed & adults who earn in informal sector. Many studies show child grant is generally well spent on essential goods @CIatUCT @tito_mboweni @SALDRU1 @Newzroom405 @GwalaBnews

[PII @PII_UCT]

@mafa_themba17 @PresidencyZA Thank you!

[PII @PII_UCT]

@tito_mboweni, don't make this terrible mistake. @Radio702 @pjchudson @CapeTalk @SAfmRadio @Powerfm987 @TimesLIVE @dailymaverick @mailandguardian @TeamNews24 @ewnupdates @enca
@SABCNews @RediTlhabi @CIatUCT @metrobabe @MetroFMTalk @CrystalOrderson @Chriseldalewis @Newzroom405

[Josh Budlender @joshbudlender]

1/4

It seems SA govt is considering increasing the Old Age Pension (OAP) *instead* of the Child Support Grant (CSG). This would be a *terrible mistake*.

As these graphs show, CSG is much better targeted to extremely poor, and covers hholds with informal workers much better

[PII @PII_UCT]

@tito_mboweni, this is why a lockdown top-up to the Old Age Pension will not reach those in the most destituted households #extendtheCSG @PresidencyZA @CyrilRamaphosa @eNCA @Julius_S_Malema @AlideDasnois @GroundUp_News @dailymaverick @Powerfm987 @SALDRU1 @SABreakingNews

[Josh Budlender @joshbudlender]

For any interested in why OAP makes little difference to extreme-poverty rate (~R580 p/person p/month):

Because OAP is ~R1800 p/month, only large OAP-receiving hholds are below extreme-poverty line. For these hholds, increase in hhold income of R500 doesn't do much per person.

[PII @PII_UCT]

@tito_mboweni, a top-up to the Child Support Grant will go much further in reaching largest mass of people than a top-up to the old age grant. Do the right thing today, Minister! @nomadglenn @lesterkk @TimesLIVE @METROFMSA @metrobabe @ChrisRoper @verashni @CapeTalk @dailymaverick

[Boipelo @Sefako_Boipelo]

We are a family of 8 and we depend on child support grant of only two kids and the struggle is real cause my mom is a street vendor selling at our nearest primary school but because of this lockdown she cant sell anymore until when only god knows if we can be assisted grocery 🙏

[PII @PII_UCT]

@tito_mboweni, #increasetheCSG and not the old age pension! Not only will more destitute people be reached, bur research has shown (time after time) that the CSG is used for nutrition and other essentials and not (as often believed) for personal luxuries @CrystalOrderson @SALDRU1

[Rocco Zizzamia @roccozizzamia]

#cyrilramaphosa's economic response to the lockdown is grossly inadequate. Without an immediate increase to the Child Support Grant, 4 MILLION South Africans will fall into extreme poverty.
Informal workers will be hardest hit. #increasetheCSG

[PII @PII_UCT]

Why is government considering giving extra financial support to those on the Old Age Grant when economists calculated that a top-up to the Child Support Grant will reach more informal worker households? @SAfmnews @Radio702 @etv @SABCNews @Chriseldalewis @pjchudson @SALDRU1

[Ruth Hall @RuthHallPLAAS]

What should government do about the food crisis?

Give more money to the poor.

Using the Child Support Grant database: this will reach 65% of people who depend on informal jobs, whereas the Old Age Pension only reaches 25%.

#TopUpTheCSG by R500.

Cost: R6.2 billion a month

[Ruth Hall @RuthHallPLAAS]

What should government do about the food crisis?

Give more money to the poor.

Using the Child Support Grant database: this will reach 65% of people who depend on informal jobs, whereas the Old Age Pension only reaches 25%.

#TopUpTheCSG by R500.

Cost: R6.2 billion a month

[PII @PII_UCT]

Is common citizenry emerging in SA? What does true reconciliation require? And what does the evidence tell about the recent decline in #SocialCohesion in the country? Up for debate on Thu @ 3pm, UCT School of Economics - a @SALDRU1 @PII_UCT seminar: https://t.co/2oNjcFqWFF

[PII @PII_UCT]

How can Africa capitalise on its diversity as a source for development instead of division & instability? This NB question for discussion on 20 Feb the @ launch of "From Divided Pasts to Cohesive Futures". All are welcome - RSVP https://t.co/E5X4uzF4x6 @SALDRU1 @_IJR_ @HSRCza

[PII @PII_UCT]

#SocialCohesion in South Africa - Past, Present & Future: the keynote address by Dr Stanley Henkeman, Executive Director of @_IJR_ Join us this 20 Feb, 3 pm, UCT Middle Campus https://t.co/E5X4uzF4x6 @AFD_en
@SaUbuntu @HSRCza @UCT_news

[PII @PII_UCT]

How can #Africa build a future where ethnic & other differences are strengths & drives growth & development rather than sources of division & instability? Join us for this book launch & discussion by the editors https://t.co/sBU1pQ0sew @_IJR_ @AFD_en @SaUbuntu
@HSRCza @SALDRU1

[PII @PII_UCT]

#ClimateChange & #poverty reduction: Dr @BrittaRennkamp found that cost, jobs and competitiveness are the main tensions with regard to the trade-offs between development and reducing CO2 @ARUA_ACEIR @ACDI_UCT @SALDRU1

[PII @PII_UCT]

#Climatechange and #poverty reduction: The cost of renewable energy is by far cheaper than from fossil fuels. While investment in renewable energy is needed, @BrittaRennkamp found limited private sector's participation in the climate change discourses @ACDI_UCT @ARUA_ACEIR

[PII @PII_UCT]

#climatechange and #poverty reduction: The most contested policies, Dr @BrittaRennkamp found, involve polices where non-poor, powerful actors stand to lose financially from their fuel-based operations @ACDI_UCT @SALDRU1 @ARUA_ACEIR