‘Take responsibility for yourself!’: Self-reliance debate erupts over SASSA reliance
· The South African
Amid the flood of comments demanding higher SASSA payouts, one reader took the conversation in a very different direction, arguing that the real solution lies in personal financial planning rather than government support.
Visit michezonews.co.za for more information.
Liesl de Kock didn’t mince words, writing, “I hope people will come to realise that they need to make their own provision instead of hoping for the 2% of taxpayers to assist. Take responsibility for yourself!” Her comment reframed the entire discussion, suggesting that relying on a small taxpaying base to fund growing social grants isn’t a sustainable long-term solution and that individuals should plan and save independently wherever possible.
A quieter voice of agreement
Johan Fourie responded with a brief but supportive reply, writing “Yes, thanks, that can be very handy, thanks,” suggesting some level of agreement with the idea of personal financial planning as a practical, if quieter, alternative to depending solely on state support.
The debate took on a sharper edge when Madelein Roodt shared an image rather than a written comment. The graphic contrasted two ideas side by side: one side reading “they built a country with hard work, sacrifice and determination,” paired with an image of labourers, and the other reading “we enjoy the lifestyle because they built it,” paired with an image suggesting comfort and leisure.
The visual appeared to critique perceived generational entitlement, implying that today’s beneficiaries may be enjoying the fruits of previous generations’ labour without matching effort or sacrifice.
Together, these comments introduce a counter-narrative to the thread’s dominant call for bigger grants, one that places responsibility on individuals and questions whether an ever-shrinking taxpayer base can keep funding rising demands indefinitely. It’s a perspective that, while less common in the comment section, taps into a real and ongoing debate about the sustainability of South Africa’s social grant system.
Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey
If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you.
Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.