National Treasury, USA News: The National Treasury has dismissed insinuations from civil society groups that it is cutting the number of grant beneficiaries to save money. Rather, it stated that it is sticking to the law to ensure beneficiaries meet the required eligibility criteria.
Responding to calls from advocacy campaigns to raise the old-age pension to R3,000 per month, the National Treasury noted that implementing such an increase would cost the State more than R30 billion annually.
MTBPS Public Comments and Grant Savings
On Friday, the National Treasury issued responses to public comments concerning the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS). Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the MTBPS in Parliament the previous week.
Addressing financial figures within the welfare framework, the National Treasury explained that a R13 billion savings in the grant system stems directly from a gradual decline in the number of beneficiaries as authorities work to root out fraud in the system.
