Despite the success of relief efforts by the government and civil society, it’s clear that hunger and food insecurity remain at disturbingly high levels in households.
Social grant recipients rally outside parliament in Cape Town calling for increases to grant rates in 2017.
Photo by Christopher Webb
To begin to deal with South Africa’s persistent poverty, high unemployment, and the economic aftermath of the pandemic, grant increases must remain in place after the six month period.
What social protection measures are in place for those who’ll be worst affected by the economic impacts of the lockdown?
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To support precarious households that can’t access existing relief during lockdown and its aftermath, the government should implement a temporary increase in the value of the child support grant.
About 60% of children in South Africa under 10 years don’t live with their biological fathers. But research sheds light on those who despite the pressures remain involved in their children’s lives.
The social grants disbursed to millions of South Africans helps entire households.
Reuters/Philimon Bulawayo
Across the world many countries issue pregnancy grants to support mothers-to-be. South Africa has a progressive social security grant system, but it does not support this vulnerable group.
An unacceptably high proportion of children in South Africa live in poor conditions.
Megan Trace/Flickr
Inequalities in the nutritional status of poor and rich have been mitigated through various social protection policies, but children in South Africa remain at risk of malnutrition.
Mothers and their babies at a clinic in Johannesburg. South Africa leads the Global South with its expansive social protection programme.
Reuters
The gendered nature of social welfare is invisible and taken for granted – particularly in development contexts.It’s time to debate a more gender-sensitive and equitable welfare agenda in the South.