27 March 2023

Excerpt from the letter penned by President Cyril Ramaphosa: “We have reached the end of Human Rights Month.
It is a time in which we reflect on the sacrifices that were made in the struggle for freedom, but also on the
progress we have made in advancing the human rights of all.
The right to social security is explicit in the Bill of Rights. This is an approach that recognises that social
security is essential to other rights, including the right to dignity.
It is this right that has underpinned the progressive expansion of South Africa’s social protection system
over the past three decades.
In 1999 just over 2.5 million people were receiving social grants. Today that number has increased to over
18 million people.”

Read full letter here: From The Desk of The President – Monday, 27 March 2023