Kutheni Kuyimfuneko Ukuba Kubekho Imali Yenkxaso Esisiseko Emzantsi Afrika?

The document advocates for a Universal Basic Income Guarantee (UBIG) in South Africa, defining it as a government commitment to ensure all adults receive a minimum income to meet basic needs. It argues that current social grant systems have gaps, particularly for adults aged 18 to 59, and that a UBIG would address systemic poverty, improve health and education outcomes, and stimulate local economies. The text asserts that such a guarantee is a constitutional right under Section 27 of the South African Constitution and aligns with international obligations under the ICESCR.

• South Africa faces extreme inequality and high unemployment, with the broad unemployment rate reaching 44.1% in the second quarter of 2022. While social grants have expanded—benefiting approximately 50% of households in 2021—significant gaps remain, particularly for adults aged 18 to 59 who are often unable to find work.
• A UBIG is presented as a tool to eliminate hunger and poverty, noting that approximately 18.3 million people in South Africa currently lack sufficient funds to meet basic food needs. Beyond immediate poverty relief, it is argued that a UBIG can improve mental health, child nutrition, and educational attainment, and reduce gender-based dependency by providing women with independent financial means.
• The document contends that a UBIG would stimulate economic growth rather than act as a mere cost, as recipients spend the funds within their local communities. It further suggests that a basic income can facilitate formal employment by covering the costs of job searching and reducing worker exploitation by providing a financial safety net.
• The right to social assistance is grounded in Section 27 of the South African Constitution and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). A 2018 review by the United Nations Committee on Social, Economic and Cultural Rights found South Africa's existing grant system insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living, specifically citing the lack of support for working-age adults.

APA

Institute for Economic Justice (2023). Kutheni Kuyimfuneko Ukuba Kubekho Imali Yenkxaso Esisiseko Emzantsi Afrika? https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IEJ-UBIG-1-factsheet-isiXhosa.pdf

Chicago

Institute for Economic Justice. Kutheni Kuyimfuneko Ukuba Kubekho Imali Yenkxaso Esisiseko Emzantsi Afrika? 2023. https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IEJ-UBIG-1-factsheet-isiXhosa.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Economic Justice |title=Kutheni Kuyimfuneko Ukuba Kubekho Imali Yenkxaso Esisiseko Emzantsi Afrika? |date=November 2023 |url=https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IEJ-UBIG-1-factsheet-isiXhosa.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforeconomicjustice2023kutheni, author = {{Institute for Economic Justice}}, title = {{Kutheni Kuyimfuneko Ukuba Kubekho Imali Yenkxaso Esisiseko Emzantsi Afrika?}}, institution = {Institute for Economic Justice}, year = {2023}, month = nov, url = {https://iej.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IEJ-UBIG-1-factsheet-isiXhosa.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }