David Neves, University of the Western Cape e Deborah James, London School of Economics and Political Science
Entities at the centre of the storm engulfing South Africa’s social grants distribution system have claimed to be champions of financial inclusion. The claim in itself is scandalous.
Social grants help millions of South Africans escape the burden of poverty.
Nic Bothma/EPA
South Africa’s Constitutional Court has repeatedly stepped in to protect vulnerable people and to perform what former deputy chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke calls its “transformative role”.
The social grants disbursed to millions of South Africans helps entire households.
Reuters/Philimon Bulawayo
South Africa’s social grant scandal seems to back up highly regarded views on public governance that Public Private Partnerships aren’t naturally efficient.
In an attempt to plug a growing deficit, South Africa is increasing wealth taxes.
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In his 2017/18 budget speech, South Africa’s finance minister Pravin Gordhan opted to focus on taxing high income earners to find desperately needed money.
Social grant recipients waiting in Gugulethu, Cape Town. A battle over social grant payment tender threatens the system.
EPA/NIC BOTHMA
The South African Social Security Agency has created a crisis that threatens to deliver social grant recipients on a silver platter into the hands of unscrupulous financial services companies.
An ill Anna Bosigo is fed by volunteer worker Lydia Mbhalo in the Orange Farm township, south of Johannesburg.
Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko
Social welfare budgets have simply not been adequate to plug decades’ worth of under-resourcing, especially in black communities. It’s a good place for government to start giving life to its slogans
Thousands wait in line outside the social services office in Cape Town to register for grants.
EPA/Nic Bothma
A change of attitude which comes with some deep introspection by South African business leaders can help address some of the country’s key socioeconomic challenges.
The financial safety net for South African children is better than in most countries. But other vulnerabilities aren’t taken care of adequately.
Reuters
The lack of service integration and the paucity of welfare services make poor people’s task of caring for their familes much harder. A small monthly cash transfer can’t solve all their challenges.
People queue to apply for social grants in Cape Town, South Africa.
Nic Bothma/EPA
What seems to be a simple question of banks’ responsibilities is actually a major issue playing out where social security, banking, property, criminal and constitutional law intersect.
The shadows of a mother and child are cast on a shack in a township in South Africa. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko.
South Africa’s government should urgently announce a moratorium on civil service employment growth. The country has reached its upper limit in the number of civil servants that can be sustained.
The Global South is engineering new anti-poverty strategies, leaving traditional left analysts in a quandry.
Reuters/Nacho Doce
Could the surge of worker and popular resistance worldwide provide the global trade union movement with an opportunity to take the lead in developing a broad coalition of social forces?
Unemployment is the main concern for about half of South Africa’s poor population while the other half is concerned about low earnings or the poor quality of work.
Reuters/Jon Herskovitz
One in five workers in South Africa is poor. The plight of the working poor has wide implications. Employers have a responsibility to ensure a minimum level of decent wages.