Dear President Ramaphosa
I am writing to you today as a human rights activist from Mahlathi village in Limpopo, with a sense of urgency and desperation. My name is Israel Nkuna, and I am compelled to express the pain and suffering of the youth and unemployed in South Africa.
I am writing this open letter to you, highlighting the dire situation of unemployment and the struggles of young people in my village. Unfortunately, the situation has only worsened. The lack of jobs has led to increased poverty, crime, and desperation. Many people are forced to commit crimes like stealing, simply to survive.
While I appreciate the R350 Social Relief of Distress grant introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic, I strongly believe that it is insufficient. The recent increase to R370 is still woefully inadequate, and I implore you to consider increasing it to R1,500 per month. This amount could make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and help alleviate poverty.
Mr President, there are reports that people, especially the elderly, in the town of Giyani are being robbed. This has led the SAPS in Giyani to request cooperation with the Community Policing Forum in surrounding villages. During elderly grant paydays, the forum is present in the town to ensure security, as the elderly must travel to town to collect their grants. This situation indicates that people are desperate and are resorting to robbing our elderly parents, highlighting the urgent need for a basic income grant of R1,500 to address the gap in hunger, corruption, and other issues.
Struggles of the elderly and young people
In my community, I have seen firsthand the struggles of the elderly and young people. Previously, an elderly woman I know of received her payment in the comfort of her own village. However, when the South African Social Security Agency discontinued village outreach payments for seniors, she was compelled to travel to town to collect her grant, which is where she experienced this unfortunate incident of being robbed of her grant.
I have spoken to many people and youth in rural Limpopo, where some of them say they are looking for jobs. With the start of the tar road project of the D3810 expected to kick in, some have expressed their enthusiasm, looking forward to it. However, some have approached me, as a ward committee member, and begged that I should ensure that there is job creation in my village and have asked me to make plans for them to secure employment. Additionally, some have inquired about the absence of the Community Work Programme in our area.
Read in Daily Maverick: Rural Limpopo residents finally get the green light for long-awaited road
A significant number of young and old people are currently residing at home, having returned from Johannesburg during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, they are now facing unemployment and are reporting that they have been unable to find work due to the ongoing effects of the previous pandemic and lack of job opportunities.
Mr President, I ask you: how do you sleep at night, knowing that many young people have nothing to live on? In 2018, when you were inaugurated as the president of South Africa, I had hope that our country would be in good hands. However, I will not be deceived. Politicians, including yourself, are eating well, while the people who voted for you are left behind, struggling to make ends meet.
When your term comes to an end, what do you want us to remember you for? If you want to be remembered for good things, now is the time to act. Implement a basic income grant of R1,500, and give the youth and the people hope that they are being considered. I ask you, and all parties in the Government of National Unity, to take this request seriously.
Every day, we hear about crime, murder, disease, and bank robberies in our country. This is caused by depression, unemployment, and a lack of direction. People are doing bad things because of the economic situation in South Africa. There is a lot of money that should be creating jobs, but it ends up in the hands of politicians who are not satisfied with their earnings.
How long will you remain silent?
Mr President, are you happy when young people suffer from hunger? How long will you remain silent? People are selling their bodies for lack of livelihood, yet you swore to work honestly. Why don’t you want us to live on the little that you have given us? The elderly, who are already struggling, are being robbed when they go to collect their grants in town. I understand that people are not doing these things because they love it, but because they have no other option.
Getting up in the morning, not knowing what to eat or drink, stresses the mind. Mr President, a R1,500 basic grant could make a difference. It could reduce theft, violence, and crime. Violence is caused by a lack of happiness, which comes from good health.
A basic income grant could make a significant difference in reducing poverty and crime. The habits of young people, such as engaging in bad behavior, could be reduced with financial support. DM
Israel Nkuna is a community activist, human rights activist, social grant activist, ward committee representative at ward 19 and writer at Limpopo, Giyani.
You may reach him via email: Israelnkuna1990@gmail.com cellphone number: 0824338538