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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| State social benefits in South Africa | | Author(s) | Frances Lund |
| Journal title | International Social Security Review, vol 46, 1993 |
| Pages | pp 5-25 |
| Keywords | Social security benefits ; Pensions ; Racism ; South Africa. |
| Annotation | The growth of South African state-provided social security is traced from its origins in British colonialism, through apartheid with racially discriminatory benefits, to the present rapid move towards racial parity. Apartheid has created a fragmented system of benefits delivered through 17 `governments', using different information systems, and until recently characterised by secrecy. This paper is based on interviews conducted with all administrations in 1991, and focuses on the state social pensions and grants for older people, disabled people, child and family care, and poor relief. Problems with the system are those of access, racial discrimination, inefficiency, corruption, and the way in which the means test is implemented. Does the social security system have a role to play in addressing the inequality and poverty caused by apartheid? In rural areas, most beneficiaries live in three-generational families, and the benefit is consumed by the household. It is suggested that its potential is greatly underestimated, and rather than being seen as an expensive burden, the social security system should be enthusiastically embraced. It would be relatively easy to make it more efficient. |
| Accession Number | CPA-960923020 A |
| Classmark | JH: JJ: TMG: 7PM * |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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