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Anglican synod calls for income grant
26/09/2002 18:14 - (SA)
Bloemfontein - The Anglican Church of Southern Africa synod called on Thursday for the urgent introduction of a basic income grant to alleviate the plight of the impoverished.
The synod, currently sitting in Bloemfontein, said there had
been reports of children in KwaZulu-Natal who committed suicide
because their parents could not afford their education and they
could not stand the shame of being told by schools to get the
money.
The church said that a lack of income meant many parents were no longer sending their children to school.
"More than 22 million of the population in South Africa lives in
abject poverty. More than 50% of these people are not
eligible to receive the current social security grant.
"More than 35% of the population is unemployed. This
figure rises to 70% in some rural areas, with no prospect of
employment. The economy is shedding jobs."
It said the deepening poverty and hunger burdened meagre
earnings and pensions even further. In many instances the money was
also used to feed extended family members, including orphans and
the unemployed.
"The economic deprivation of families also prevents them from
accessing health care. The increasing number of people infected
with HIV/Aids is driving many families from being poor to abject
poverty.
"Those who are sick and those who care for them have to give up
their jobs. The increasing number of Aids orphans further
exacerbates the socio-economic condition of these families.
"Something needs to be done to ensure sustainable earning for
families. Introducing poverty grants would increase cash flow
within families and communities. This would contribute to
mobilisation of domestic resources, as the recipients are more
likely to spend within their communities than outside," the church
said.
The synod called on the social cluster ministers to support the
recommendations of the Taylor Commission on Social Security, which
proposed a basic income grant.
It also called on Finance Minister Trevor Manuel to seek and
allocate resources to implement such a grant.
- SAPA
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