Ramaphosa Extends Grant for Poor Amid Jobs-or-Welfare Tussle

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the payment of a stipend for the poor by a year, deferring a contentious decision on whether to introduce permanent income grants.

About 10.3 million people signed up for the 350-rand ($23) monthly handouts, which were dispensed to cushion them from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic and were due to expire at the end of next month. A debate is raging in South Africa over whether the government should continue bolstering welfare spending or focus on creating jobs for the 35% of the workforce that’s unemployed by fostering investment and economic growth.