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The Democratic Alliance said government data indicated that nearly a third of South Africans, or about 18 million people, rely on social grants every month to survive.
This is according to a written reply to questions from the opposition by the Minister of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu.
DA MP, Bridget Masango, said according to the official reply, 31% of South Africans out of an estimated population of just over 59 622 350, rely on social grants which have replaced salaries as their official source of income.
She said this was a massive increased from "the mere 7%" who received social grants from 1996 when the first data was recorded at a national level.
"While the DA supports the payment of grants, the creation of jobs is of the utmost importance. South Africans need jobs, not just for financial stability, but also for the dignity it provides, and the government has utterly failed to stimulate job growth," Masango said.
She said while it would be "a natural inclination" to lay the blame at the feet of the Covid-19 pandemic, the first sharp increase to 20% of the population receiving grants happened in the 2004/2005 financial year.
Masango said this figure had been steadily rising ever since, with 30% of South Africans having to rely on grants since the 2010/2011 financial year.
"The only worthwhile conclusion that can be drawn is that South Africans are increasingly going into poverty due to a failing ANC government and its policies," she concluded.
