Pretoria - It's just a pity that you cannot satisfy everyone, but for me the government is doing more than enough to take care of us. These were the words of an elated young mother, Lindiwe Makua, 22, from Mamelodi after hearing the news that the child support grant will be increased in April.
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan today announced during his Budget Speech that the state's child support grant will increase from R250 to R260 in April.
"It's more than enough and I'm not complaining at all because this money already helps me to pay the fees for the creche and buy clothes for my child.
"What people don't understand is that this money is not for mothers but babies and if one spends it accordingly, it makes a huge difference, the government is really working for us," said Makua, who is a mother of a nine-month-old boy.
Lerato Latoya, 24, from Groenkloof, who recently received the first grant for her five week old daughter also shared Makua's sentiments, saying that a R10 increase for child support grant is welcome as it helps her with her baby's needs including bath soaps and baby formula.
"This is good news for us, this money will close the gap when I'm short of baby stuff since I'm not working, I really appreciate government's initiatives in supporting us young mothers," said Latoya.
Gordhan also announced an increase in the old age and disability grants - which will rise by between R20 and R60 to up to R1 160 a month.
Jacob Mchunu from Soshanguve, 67, said the old age grant helps him to support his three unemployed children including five grandchildren.
"I'm totally surviving on this grant and an increase is good news for me and my children, I am not complaining at all because I also get free medication for my high blood pressure at the state hospital," said Mchunu.
Close to 15 million South Africans receive social grants from the government and the number is expected to increase as an extension was made to the child support grant to cater for older children.
