KEETMANSHOOP - Beneficiaries of social grants in Keetmanshoop welcomed their monthly increment of N$200 with mixed feelings after not receiving the major increase they had hoped for.
Finance and Public Enterprises minister Iipumbu Shiimi increased social grants from N$1 400 to N$1 600 with effect from 1 April 2024 whilst tabling the 2024/2025 national budget two days ago.
Erick Cloete, (64) said he pinned all his hopes on receiving a social grant of N$2 000 as from April 2024 as the State pension grant is the only income he has. He has two school-going children.
“We were earlier this year informed on NBC by (late) president Hage Geingob in his 2024 New Year’s message (that he wished) our pensions would increase to N$2 000 or even N$3 000 per month. Now, we are only getting N$1 600?” he asked.
He was, however, quick to express his gratitude for the monthly social grant.
Also commenting was Agnes Tise (55), who is receiving her grant on the basis of continued ill-health, and urged fellow recipients to be thankful for government increasing their social grants in these difficult economic worldwide circumstances.
“It might not be much, but I believe it can ease one’s burden”, she observed. Tise said seen in the light that their grants have been increased annually for the past few years and also government’s commitment to continue doing so in future, beneficiaries should look at the brighter side of the coin instead.
Meanwhile, 72-year old Johanna Blaauw was excited when hearing about the increase.
“I can at least buy more food and medicine for myself, as more money is available to me now,” she beamed. She said comparing their current pension to that of the colonial area when beneficiaries got paid on the basis of ethnicity/race means the older generation should see it as a blessing.
“We fully recognise the dream of our departed president for a significant increase in the old age grant, but we cannot afford to deliver on his dream in a single financial year“, Shiimi stated during the budget presentation.
Statistics obtained from the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare indicate that there are more than 618 000 Namibians surviving on social grants. These include old-age pensions, grants for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as well as disability grants.