Update

KAROO NEWS - The shock of the recent death of three children, Unathi (14), Orabile (8) and Oratile (5) Buso at the hands of their mother, Bongeka Buso (38) from Butterworth, Eastern Cape on 6 August has faded - but the shock of the fuel increase on 6 September and another in October may once again remind us of the mother's plight. 

Her inability to provide for her children drove her to this most tragic and desperate of deeds.

Kobus Botha MPL, DA Shadow MEC for Social Development, researched the current economic status of single female parents living on Sassa grants, especially in the Eastern Cape. Botha shared his research with the Advertiser, revealing shocking statistics.

"Nowhere is the devastating impact of the cost-of-living crisis more evident than in female-headed households in the Eastern Cape," he says in his statement. 

He says that resilient women, who have fought against and endured so much injustice, are being pushed beyond their breaking point by the skyrocketing costs of basic necessities. "While our children are starving, the government drags its feet on reforms that would make a real difference in the cost of basic goods and enable these women to put food on the table. All social safety nets that have been put in place to aid families in times of crisis, are failing," he says.

Problems with debt

He says that the problem that increases the financial variability of many poor households in South Africa, is their total dependency on illegal cash loans and money lending facilities. This was also the case in the Buso-murders.

Department of Social Development

Gloria Bukiwe Fanta, the MEC for Social Development, revealed in parliament that only 376 food parcels had been delivered across the entire Eastern Cape Province between April and July this year. Fanta revealed that her department has also cut the budget allocation for food parcels by close to a million rand for the 2023/24 financial year, down from R6,1m to R5,2m.

"It has also come to my attention that some Department of Social Development officials insist that beneficiaries who need food parcels, must collect them from DSD offices. These families live in absolute poverty. They do not have money for food but are expected to travel vast distances to get assistance, putting the paltry support from Social Development out of reach," says Botha.

Value-added tax

"It was proposed that Government drops VAT on more food items commonly purchased by the poorest households, which include bone-in chicken, beef, tinned beans, wheat flour, margarine, peanut butter, baby food, tea, coffee and soup powder. This will help households to stretch food budgets further while enabling the purchase of more nutritious food," suggested Botha, but he goes on to say that the government refused to do so. "They have also refused to cut exorbitant fuel taxes and levies that would ease the impact of soaring transport costs."

Raising support grants

"A proposed significant increase in the child support grant, raising it from R500 to the same level as the official food poverty line, will ensure that there will be enough money to ensure our children do not go hungry," mentions Botha.

Inflation

"The unemployment crisis has also added to the burden on households with record food price inflation, load shedding and rising energy costs," Botha says. "Fuel and interest rate hikes have eroded the public's disposable income and further disadvantaging the poor. The country was at heightened risk, including civil unrest. The government's failure to supply food producers and retailers with sufficient water and electricity to run businesses efficiently had fuelled inflation. The truth of the matter is, we are in difficult times. Government has chosen to do nothing, and in many cases to worsen the situation. People of the Eastern Cape, most probably all people of our country, are suffering."

Botha subsequently visited a local Cradock grocery retail store to put together a monthly basic family hamper. The hamper ended up costing R900.

Grant increases

The Older Person's Grant (old age pension) increased to R2 080 on 1 April, for recipients between 60 and 74 years old, an increase of R90. An increase of R10 to R2 090 will take effect on 1 October while an increase of R90 took effect on 1 April for recipients over 75 years old, bringing their monthly income to R2 100.

"The cost of living of our vulnerable women of all ages, and children, must be addressed promptly," Botha says.

Related article: Mother kills starving children

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