insert_link South Africa Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study By Leila Patel, University of Johannesburg and Yolanda Sadie, University of Johannesburg Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africa’s 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The country’s social grants system is one of the largest in Africa in terms of number of beneficiaries. Research shows that this has helped reduce poverty. […] todayMay 15, 2024 12
insert_link Local Bank of Namibia launches the instant payment project to enhance financial inclusion. The Bank of Namibia today officially launched the Instant Payment Project, a pioneering initiative set to revolutionize financial services across Namibia. With a targeted official launch year of 2025, the project aims to significantly broaden financial inclusion by providing essential and affordable financial services to all whilst focusing on the rural and informal sectors which face logistical and financial challenges in accessing conventional banking services. In 2023, the […] todayApril 26, 2024 27
insert_link South Africa South Africans tasted the fruits of freedom and then corruption snatched them away – podcast By Gemma Ware, The Conversation and Thabo Leshilo, The Conversation Five years after his momentous election as South African president, Nelson Mandela stepped down after one term in office in 1999. Thabo Mbeki, his deputy, took over the mantle of the post-apartheid transition. Mbeki would lead the country for the next nine years, a period of relatively high economic growth which enabled South Africans to begin to […] todayApril 22, 2024 34
insert_link Business / Economics Finance Minister, Ipumbu Shiimi tables 2024/25 national budget Finance Minister Ipumbu Shiimi has tabled the National Budget for the 2024/25 period in the National Assembly this afternoon. Shiimi said that this year’s budget was built on the three pillars of stimulating domestic demand, accelerating investments in productive public infrastructure, and cultivating fiscal prudence. Revenue estimates for FY2023/24 have been revised upwards by N$2.5 billion to a total of N$81.1 billion. Old Age Grant and the Disability […] todayFebruary 28, 2024 33
insert_link Lifestyle Money and ageing: South African study shows cash grants help people live longer and have better memory function By Molly Rosenberg, Indiana University; Chodziwadziwa Whiteson Kabudula, University of the Witwatersrand; Kathleen Kahn, University of the Witwatersrand, and Lindsay Kobayashi, University of Michigan Nearly half of South Africa’s 60 million people receive social grants, ranging from child support to pensions. The grants are designed to provide financial assistance to people living in poverty. The largest components of the South African social grant system were introduced, or expanded […] todayFebruary 7, 2024 8
insert_link South Africa SA’s Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu says education has the power to break the cycle of poverty SA's Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu says education has the power to break the cycle of poverty and transform lives. By accessing education opportunities at institutions of higher learning, many social grant beneficiaries have succeeded in creating a better future for themselves and their families, thus breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and inequality. The department’s spokesperson, Lumka Oliphant says the benefits of social grants extend beyond individual beneficiaries to […] todayJanuary 22, 2024 8
insert_link Namibia Social Activist Rinaani Musutua speaks on Namibian Election Promises: Old Age Pension Hike Sparks Skepticism In a recent interview with Future Media News, Rinaani Musutua, a Social Activist, reflected on promises made as Namibia approaches a crucial election year. The below is the full transcipt of this. "In a strategic move ahead of the upcoming elections, Namibia's ruling party, Swapo, has pledged to increase the old age pension to N$3,000, as announced by President Geingob earlier this year. The promise, however, has sparked skepticism, with […] todayJanuary 11, 2024 60
insert_link Namibia South African president says social grants may be removed if the ANC loses power, what’s the Namibian perspective? ActionSA recently rejected the malicious and misleading claims by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa that social grants may be removed if the ANC loses power in the elections this year. ActionSA’s, Lerato Ngobeni, says this type of fearmongering is typical of the ruling party, who are now resorting to outright lies to prevent an electoral loss. Social Acitivist Rinaani Musutua weighs in on the Namibian side of things. todayJanuary 11, 2024 6
