A basic income grant could be a priority for the new government, report card shows

The parties holding the top six slots in election polls all support a basic income grant, indicating that it will likely become one of the first big equity policies adopted after a new government is sworn in. 

The top six are the ANC, DA, EFF, MK, IFP and Action SA. They all support some form of basic income grant but were scored unevenly by the basic income coalition.

The ANC and Action SA scored eight out of a possible 12 from the Universal Basic Income Coalition (Ubic). The ANC’s partner in national government, Good, also scored eight (an “A”). The EFF, a potential coalition partner of the ANC, scored a “C” from Ubic.

The DA also proposes a form of basic income but only scored 2/12 (“D”) as it attaches many conditions to such a grant. The IFP scored 3/12. (Also a “D”).

The DA, IFP and Action SA are part of the Multi-Party Charter which supports a basic income grant.  

This suggests that in a country with an expanded unemployment rate of over 40% (including people who have become discouraged from looking for work), the idea of a basic income grant is becoming more widely accepted.

Read more in Daily Maverick: 2024 elections

“South Africa needs a basic income grant. More than half the population lives in poverty, with at least 17 million adults living below the food poverty line. Sixty percent of people in South Africa believe the government should introduce such a grant,” said the coalition as it launched its report card. 



Ten of the 19 parties it analysed committed to expanded “social protections”, while five fully backed a grant. 

“This moment of huge potential sets South Africa apart from peer countries. If a universal basic income grant becomes a reality after the election, it would position South Africa as a leader in charting a new path of inclusive growth,” the 14 organisations said. 

The coalition has set out 12 principles for a basic income grant: 

• Must expand social protection;


• Have a clear plan and time frame for implementation;


• Be of adequate value (above the food poverty line of R760);


• Be universal for people aged 18 to 59 years old – from 60, people can go onto the old age pension grant;


• Be available to all living in poverty;


• Have no conditionalities;


• Be funded in a redistributive way (such as through a wealth tax);


• Be paid to individuals;


• Have no unfair exclusions;


• Must protect data (under State Capture, rogue companies sold grantees’ data);


• Must retain, not replace, other social grants; and


• Must build on the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant.