The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) states: 'Poverty is the single biggest burden of South Africa's people and the direct result of the apartheid system and the skewed nature of business and development which accompanied it'. (RDP Document 1994 p14.)
A cornerstone of the Government's programme has been to tackle poverty. To understand how government approaches this issue it is useful to have a common understanding of what we mean when we speak of poverty.
One way of understanding who is affected by poverty is to look at household income. This is a useful way of identifying particular families who need social grants, free basic services or food parcels.
But household income levels do not tell us much about whether some people in our society are more affected by poverty than others or what has caused the poverty they face. In order to deal with the root causes of poverty, it is important we understand both its causes and its character.
The history of apartheid has meant that poverty has affected some people more than others. Black people in general and Africans in particular were confined to low income jobs and were most affected by unemployment and landlessness. This was not a historical accident, but the result of deliberate policies that deprived people of their land, kept them out of skilled work and confined them to urban ghettos and bantustans.
Within the black community, women, the disabled, the elderly and children were worst affected by poverty. Pensions and grants were virtually inaccessible to African people and those who did receive them, received less than their white counterparts.
See AlsoSASSA Status Pending? This is how to Resolve the issue onlineHow Much Funding do State and Local Governments Receive from the Federal Government?Minister Announces Sassa SRD Grant IncreaseSassa SRD Grant Will Increase On 1 AprilThe legacy of this system is that throughout our country there were millions of people who cannot meet their basic needs for housing, water, sanitation, food, health care and education.
The RDP document notes that poverty in South Africa requires a comprehensive strategy to overcome the legacies of apartheid and promote sustainable development. The strategy includes:
- Creating opportunities for all South Africans to develop to their full potential through education and training.
- Job creation, improving conditions of employment and creating opportunities for all to sustain themselves through productive activity.
- Improving living conditions through developing basic physical and social services, health care, and education and training for urban and rural communities.
- Establishing a social security system and other safety nets and protect the poor, the disabled, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.
The government programme aims to deal with the root causes of poverty in our country. Programmes that will lessen poverty in the long term include: education and capacity development, land redistribution, promoting economic development and job creation, building houses, providing water, sanitation and electricity, and building schools and clinics.
The above strategies will only take effect in the longer term and we need strategies to deal with immediate problems such as unemployment, hunger and those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
These measures include:
- * Ensuring that all pensioners receive their pensions on time, that money does not run out, and that time spent in queues is short
* Extending the child support grant to all children under 14 years of age whose parents are unemployed or earn less than R800 a month
* Ensuring that all disabled adults and children receive a disability grant
* Ensuring primary school children in poor communities receive a sandwich and milk every day.
* Free basic services to low income families
* Public works programmes such as the renovation of schools and clinics to create short-term jobs
Unemployment Insurance for workers who loose their jobs, including domestic and agriculture workers
The Taylor Commission of Inquiry was set up by the government to make recommendations on how to deal with social grants. One of the commission's recommendations was to give a basic income grant of R100 per month to every person.
The discussions and debates on BIG continue, but meanwhile government has emphasised an approach which builds on our existing social security systems rather than introducing a new grant. The main concerns about BIG were about how to effectively distribute the grant and how to make sure that it directly benefited the most needy. There are a number of existing grants targeting the disabled, pensioners, poor children and the unemployed (see section 6 below). Key issues are to make sure that all those who qualify get access to grants and subsidised services and that we improve existing grants and services as much as possible. In this regard the government is taking the following measures to promote a comprehensive security programme:
- Consolidating and integrating all existing grants and integrating them with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
- Introducing a national health insurance.
- Actively campaigning to ensure that pensioners, the disabled and children under 14 from poor families receive their grants
- Removing obstacles to the delivery of free basic services to all in the shortest possible time, particularly in municipalities that serve the rural poor.
Amounts listed here are for 2005 - they increase every year.
a) Pension
Men who have turned 65 and women who have turned 60 can apply for a state pension if they do not have other income over a certain amount. Pensions are R780 per month.
b) Disability Grant
If you are unable to work because of illness and have very little income, you can get a grant of R780 per month. A means test is used to decide if you are poor enough to qualify.
If you need a lot of care and nursing you may also be able to get a grant in aid of a further R160 per month.
c) Foster Care Grant
If you are the official foster parent of a child, you can apply for a foster care grant of R560 per month. You have to provide the child with adequate food, medical care, clothing, schooling and shelter.
d) Care Dependency Grant
A care dependency grant of R780 is meant for children who are ill or disabled and need special care. It can be used for children who are ill with AIDS. Parents or foster parents or anyone who is responsible for looking after the child can apply. You can get a care dependency grant even if you already have a foster grant.
e) Child Support Grant
Anyone who is poor and looks after a child of up to 8 years old can apply for a child support grant of R180 per month. In 2004 it was extended to children of up to 10 years of age and in 2005 to children of up to 13 years of age. A means test is used to work out if you are poor enough to qualify for this grant. The person who applies cannot earn more than R1100 per month if they live in an informal settlement or rural area, and more than R800 per month if they live in an urban house.
f) Social Relief
Social workers can also give temporary relief for people who are in urgent need of support. Sometimes you can wait for a few months for your grant and the social worker can give you temporary relief - this will be food or money. It will not be a lot and it will only be given to you for a short time.
Go to your nearest Welfare office (Department of Social Development). If there is no office near you, go to the nearest magistrate's court. You will need different papers for different grants. The social worker will give you a list. On your first visit, take your ID book and any other proof you have that may be needed for the application. Here are some examples:
- Your ID document
- Medical certificate
- Proof of income and assets
- Marriage certificate
- Death certificate of parents and birth certificate of children if you are looking after orphans
- Affidavit from birth mother if the children's real parents are still alive - to say why you are taking care of them and that she agrees with you doing that.
- Letter from your employer if you have any income
The government is rolling out a food support programme for impoverished families. It targets very poor families, pensioners, child-headed homes and homes where breadwinners are ill. The Department of Social Development is coordinating this programme and it includes food parcels as well as food growing starter packs.
An important part of poverty relief is clothing and material assistance.
Find out what support exists in your area and make sure that you help people in need to access that support.
