Cape Town, South Africa, 05 May 2025 – Black Sash notes the recent public statement by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula made during a visit to Freedom Park in Soweto, yesterday, regarding the conversion of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant into a Basic Income Grant (BIG). We welcome the reaffirmation of the GNU’s commitment to ensuring long-term income support for those living in poverty and unemployed.

Black Sash seeks to commission an independent external evaluation of its Strategic Plan (2021–2024) and programme implementation to assess achievements, challenges, and lessons learned over the past four years. This evaluation will provide a critical review of the organisation’s impact, effectiveness, and efficiency and recommendations to inform the next strategic planning cycle.

Cape Town, 17 March 2025 — Black Sash notes the recent announcement that the SASSA gold cards will cease to function as of March 20. While Postbank and SASSA have communicated that card replacements will continue beyond this date, we are worried that many beneficiaries, particularly the elderly, those living in remote areas, and those facing physical or economic barriers, may still be left without the means to access their grants on time.

In response to Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2025 Budget Speech, we express concern that despite a second chance at the Budget Speech, the Minister yet again failed to prioritise investment in the majority of those residing in South Africa.

Black Sash, in partnership with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), is proud to announce an important two-day convening focused on advancing the Social Protection Floor (SPF) in South Africa. The event kicks off today in Boksburg, Gauteng and brings together key stakeholders, including policymakers, civil society organizations, trade unionists, academics, and social protection experts, to engage in dialogue and action aimed at strengthening the country’s social protection framework.

Black Sash is deeply appalled by the political wrangling within the Government of National Unity (GNU) that has led to the shocking cancellation of the much-anticipated Budget Speech that was scheduled for today. This display of recklessness threatens the livelihoods of millions of South Africans who depend on social protection to survive.