How do parties compare on basic income policy?
South Africa needs a basic income grant. More than half of the population lives in poverty, with at least 17 million working-age adults below the food poverty line. 60% of people in South Africa believe the government should introduce a basic income, and several parties have pledged to do so if they win enough support at the election.
Today, the Universal Basic Income Coalition (UBIC) launches our Universal Basic Income Policy Election Scorecard—a resource for voters to compare where parties stand on the question of basic income.
Out of the 19 parties we analysed in our scorecard, 10 have committed to expanding the social protection floor, and five have committed to a basic income grant or a universal basic income. Collective voter support for parties advancing basic income is estimated at over 50%.
This is a moment of huge potential and sets South Africa apart amongst peer countries. If a universal basic income grant (UBIG) becomes a reality after the election, it would position South Africa as a leader in charting a new path of inclusive growth.
But the Election Scorecard shows that there is a huge difference between the parties when it comes to social grant policy and that the devil is in the detail (or in some cases, the lack of detail). Some parties that have campaigned on improving social grants, actually perform poorly when we read the fine print.
In producing our Election Scorecard, we interrogated not only whether parties had pledged to introduce a basic income, but several other indicators, including whether the proposed basic income grant was enough to cover basic needs; who would have access to it; whether it would come with any strings attached; whether it would build on the social relief of distress (SRD) grant; and whether it would be funded in a way that is redistributive (or pro-poor).
These criteria are based on the demands reflected in the UBIC position paper, which are in turn rooted in robust local and international evidence of how a basic income could be implemented in South Africa, to have a significant positive impact not only on poverty but also on local economic activity, growth, health, education, crime and women’s economic empowerment.
As part of the process of producing our scorecard, we reached out to all parties that met our criteria for inclusion and asked them for more information or clarification on their positions. We invited them to consider UBIC demands and incorporate them into their policy platforms. In response, three parties adopted new statements and policies to incorporate or affirm commitment to UBIC principles—these were the African National Congress (ANC)*, United Democratic Movement (UDM), and GOOD. We applaud them for their willingness to engage, and the broader commitment to democratic values that this represents.
The 2024 election is taking place against a backdrop of increasing hunger, deprivation, economic exclusion, and disenfranchisement. But our hard-won democracy gives us the capacity and the tools to change course. We have an opportunity on 29 May to take a significant step towards a just future, in which we unlock the massive potential of our people, and make sure everyone has an opportunity to contribute to building the South Africa we deserve.
The UBIC Election Scorecard is intended to help voters who care about basic income to make an informed choice on election day and to hold parties accountable to their manifesto promises after the election. While promoting informed engagement, the scorecard is not intended as an endorsement of any political party.
Notes:
- *The ANC has committed to release a statement outlining their UBIG commitments on Wednesday 15 May following the release of our scorecard. UBIC has sighted the statement and incorporated it into our scoring decisions.
- UBIC is not affiliated to any political party, nor do we endorse any political party in the 2024 election. Our scorecard represents an independent analysis of parties’ commitments against robust standards of progressive social protection policy.
- The three best-performing parties on our scorecard are Action SA, the ANC, and GOOD. Each of these parties has committed to a universal basic income and has released details of how it will be implemented inclusively and progressively.
- Read the full report on our methodology and our scoring system, as well as commentary on each party’s position.
- UBIC is a collection of civil society organisations that advocate for the realisation of a “universal basic income” (UBI) in South Africa.
- UBIC members represent a broad section of South African society, including youth, labour, grant beneficiaries, and children’s, economic justice, and human rights advocates. We have a breadth and depth of expertise in economics and social policy.
UBIC is comprised of the following organisations:
- Africa UBI Observatory
- Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)
- Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN)
- Black Sash
- Children’s Institute, UCT
- Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
- Family Caregiving
- Global Reformed Platforms for Engagement (GRAPE )
- Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ)
- #PayTheGrants
- RightfulShare An Income Movement
- Social Policy Initiative (SPI)
- Women on Farms Project
- Youth Lab
Amaarah is a Junior Programme Officer in the Rethinking Economics for Africa project. She is currently studying towards her Masters in Applied Development Economics at Wits University. 
Dr James Musonda is the Senior Researcher on the Just Energy Transition at the IEJ. He is also the Principal Investigator for the Just Energy Transition: Localisation, Decent Work, SMMEs, and Sustainable Livelihoods project, covering South Africa, Ghana, and Kenya.
Dr Basani Baloyi is a Co-Programme Director at the IEJ. She is a feminist, development economist and activist. She gained her research experience while working on industrial policy issues in academia, at the Centre For Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) and Corporate Strategy and Industrial Development (CSID) Unit.
Dr Andrew Bennie is Senior Researcher in Climate Policy and Food Systems at the IEJ. He has extensive background in academic and civil society research, organising, and activism. Andrew has an MA in Development and Environmental Sociology, and a PhD in Sociology on food politics, the agrarian question, and collective action in South Africa, both from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Juhi holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations and Sociology from Wits University and an Honours degree in Development Studies from the University of Cape Town. Her current research focus is on social care regimes in the South African context, with a particular focus on state responses to Early Childhood Development and Long-Term Care for older persons during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her other research areas include feminist economics, worlds of work and the care economy.
Bandile Ngidi is the Programme Officer for Rethinking Economics for Africa. Bandile has previously worked at the National Minimum Wage Research Initiative and Oxfam South Africa. He holds a Masters in Development Theory and Policy from Wits University. He joined the IEJ in August 2018. Bandile is currently working on incubating the Rethinking Economics for Africa movement (working with students, academics and broader civil society). 
Liso Mdutyana has a BCom in Philosophy and Economics, an Honours in Applied Development Economics, and a Masters in Applied Development Economics from Wits University. His areas of interest include political economy, labour markets, technology and work, and industrial policy. Through his work Liso aims to show the possibility and necessity of economic development that prioritises human wellbeing for everyone.
Joan Stott holds a Bachelor of Business Science in Economics and a Master’s in Economics from Rhodes University. She brings to the IEJ a wealth of experience in public finance management, policy development, institutional capacity-building, and advancing socioeconomic and fiscal justice.
Siyanda Baduza is a Junior Basic Income Researcher at IEJ. He holds a BSc in Economics and Mathematics, an Honours degree in Applied Development Economics, and is currently completing a Master’s degree in Applied Development Economics at the University of the Witwatersrand. Siyanda’s research focuses on the impacts of social grants on wellbeing, with a particular focus on the gendered dynamics of this impact. His interests include applied micro-economics, policy impact evaluation, labour markets, gender economics, and political economy. He is passionate about translating economic research into impactful policy.
Shikwane is a Junior Programme Officer at IEJ focusing on civil society support and global governance in the G20. He has a background in legal compliance, IT contracting and student activism. He holds degrees in Political Studies and International Relations, as well as an LLB, from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Dr Tsega is a Senior Researcher focusing on Women’s Economic Empowerment within the G20. She examines gender equity in economic policy, with expertise in food systems and small enterprise development. She holds a PhD in development studies from the University of the Western Cape, an MA in Development Economics, and degrees in Development Studies and Economics from UNISA and Addis Ababa University.
Nerissa is a G20 Junior Researcher at IEJ, focusing on advancing civil society priorities within the G20 framework. She bridges data, research, and policy to advance inclusive economic frameworks. She is completing a Master’s in Data Science (e-Science) at the University of the Witwatersrand, and holds Honours and Bachelor’s Degrees in International Relations with distinction. She has worked as a Research Fellow at SAIIA and a Visiting Research Fellow at Ipea in Brazil.
Dr Mzwanele is a Senior Researcher supporting South Africa’s G20 Sherpa with policy research. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Birmingham and an MSc from the University of the Witwatersrand. His work covers open macroeconomics, trade, finance, and higher education policy, and he has published widely on inequality, unemployment, household debt and higher education curriculum reform.
Kamal is the Project Lead for IEJ’s G20 work, focusing on sovereign debt and development finance. He holds a BComm (Hons) in Applied Development Economics from the University of the Witwatersrand and an Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Economic Policies for the Global Transition. He has worked with SCIS, UNCTAD and co-founded Rethinking Economics for Africa.