The Democratic Alliance (DA) has challenged Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini to join it on a shopping trip to test if R753 was enough to sustain an entire family for a month.

In a reply to a DA parliamentary question, Dlamini said social grant beneficiaries should be able to live on R753 a month to buy “adequate food as well as additional non-food items”.

The minister had not responded to the party’s invitation 10 days ago to go shopping, said DA MP, Bridget Masango.

“With rising food prices due to the drought and other factors, the DA contends that the minister’s claim is deeply insensitive and completely untrue,” she said.

She said child support grants were not adequate to support the growth of children, who were the future of the country. Studies had shown almost a quarter of South Africa’s children had stunted growth, Masango said.

“We therefore challenge Minister Dlamini to come shopping with us on Wednesday, 22 June, at the Shoprite in Soweto, so that she can see for herself what R753 can buy.”

While Dlamini would not be drawn into answering questions about allegations that she stayed at the luxurious Oyster Box in Umhlanga last Sunday at a cost of R11 000, News24 has independently confirmed that she did.

“Yes, she did stay there last night [Sunday] and paid R11 000,” a well-placed source earlier told News24.

This made the DA question how the minister could justify how she expected a family to survive on R753, while she stayed in obvious luxury.