How idyllic, the world that some seem to have created in their minds to conclude that poor people are incapable of using their minds effectively. At the mention of any form of social assistance the government proposes to help the impoverished, we’re bound to be bombarded with unsolicited opinions on how the recipients ought to spend the meagre amount.

What may seem like some noble advice at first glance often has undertones of seeking to undermine the thinking capacity of those some have concluded are beneath them, by virtue of falling into a tax bracket below theirs. This fails to recognise the resourcefulness of someone who’s compelled to stretch R350 for an entire month: obviously, in most instances they have to compromise the majority of their basic needs just to meet a portion of what’s important. Prior to that, there’s the tedious application process, wherein lack of access to a smart device may just prevent you from it, given that it is, after all, a digital era we live in. Then we move to having to stand in those long queues in unbearable weather conditions just to get those funds – that’s if you haven’t been rejected due to some red tape.

Now here comes a clever stranger to suggest you use a portion of that money to study an online course or buy some stock. All this in an ideal world sounds impressive, but coming back to the grounds of South Africa and its harsh realities means being cognisant of the number of people who live in such dire poverty that to even think that is feasible to achieve makes your cognitive understanding of socio-economic challenges questionable. In this country with an economy that doesn’t inspire hope of any kind, what is one expected to do with a software development certificate? Where are people meant to use it when plenty of graduates with multiple degrees are begging for employment daily at traffic lights only to receive a basic wage that’s still not enough?

This is not to absolve the need to come up with alternative solutions to the problems we’re currently faced with, but for many, the immediate fight is against hunger. Poverty is dehumanising and humiliating. Can we not add on to a burden that’s already so heavy for so many? Right now, someone out there is unable to figure out where their next meal will come from. They have spent the night on the streets during this cold front and soon will be risking their health by withstanding those long queues to get a mere R350. Arguably not the most sustainable solution, but for now, a little difference will be made in someone’s life and there is also the ripple effect it might have on those around them.

Most people do aspire to some sort of personal development, we’d like to be and attain better in life, but sometimes there are circumstances beyond our control that may hinder that. It cannot be attributed to laziness when those who are a minority economically carry the majority of the workforce of this country. People want to work and earn their means of living but it’s not conducive to do so in South Africa.

Some empathy will do, from all of us in these trying times. If you look at it through another lens though, there’s growth in many that seems to have gone unnoticed: a lot of people have displayed how resilient and compassionate they are. In the midst of it all they’ve gotten up each day to try to salvage the moments. There have been signs of collaboration and innovation, acts of kindness and those who’ve started their businesses. It is not all doom and gloom, there are some glimpses of hope and expectancy in the hearts of many.

All this and more is commendable. So when the time comes to receive government assistance, let’s allow people to do what they find fitting. Let’s not marginalise or ‘other’ people – we’re all in this fight together.

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