Social Grants and Poverty Reduction in the Resource-Poor Community of Doornkop, Soweto, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2708-9355/12830Keywords:
community development, social protection, cash transfers, SowetoAbstract
Over 1.5% of the global gross domestic product (GDP) is spent on social protection in developing and transition countries. The South African government supports an increasing number of its citizens with reliable and predictable monthly social grants to mitigate high levels of poverty and unemployment in resource-poor communities. Although the literature has shown the positive impact of the intervention on nutrition, schooling, women’s empowerment, access to services, and search for employment, the relationship between social grants, agency and poverty reduction in resource-poor communities is yet to receive adequate research attention. Considering the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No poverty, as well as the expected role of social grants, this study aimed to explore how the receipt of social grants contributes to beneficiaries’ agency towards poverty reduction in the resource-poor community of Doornkop, Soweto, South Africa. A qualitative research methodology was used to understand the impact of social grants and found that receipt thereof created new economic opportunities, empowered individuals, and boosted the overall economic status of the community.
References
Aguëro, J., M. Carter, and I. Woolard. 2006. “The Impact of Unconditional Cash Transfers on Nutrition: The South African Child Support Grant.” Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), University of Cape Town. Accessed April 3, 2023. http://opensaldru.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11090/46/06_08.pdf?sequence=1
Ardington, C., T. Barnighausen, A. Case, and A. Menendez. 2016. “Social Protection and Labor Market Outcomes of Youth in South Africa.” Industrial and Labor Relations Review 69 (2): 455–470. https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793915611411 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0019793915611411
Babbie, E. 2016. The Practice of Social Research. Boston: Cengage Learning.
Bakewell, O. 2010. “Some Reflections on Structure and Agency in Migration Theory.” Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies 36 (10): 1689–1708. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2010.489382 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2010.489382
Bandura, A. 2001. “Social Cognitive Theory: An Agentic Perspective.” Annual Review of Psychology 52 (1): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-08-043076-7/01340-1 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.1
Barrientos, A. 2013. Social Assistance in Developing Countries. New York: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139856058 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139856058
Barrientos, A., and C. Santibanez. 2009. “New Forms of Social Assistance and the Evolution of Social Protection in Latin America.” Journal of Latin American Studies 41 (1): 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022216X08005099 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022216X08005099
Bastagli, F., J. Hagen-Zanker, L. Harman, V. Barca, G. Sturge, T. Schmidt, and L. Pellerano. 2016. “Cash Transfers: What Does the Evidence Say? A Rigorous Review of Program Impact and the Role of Design and Implementation Features.” Overseas Development Institute. Accessed November 17, 2023. https://www.odi.org/publications/10505-cash-transfers-what-does-evidence-say-rigorous-review-impacts-and-role-design-and-implementation
Bhorat, H., D. Tseng, and B. Stanwix, B. 2014. “Pro-Poor Growth and Social Protection in South Africa: Exploring the Interactions.” Development Southern Africa 31 (2): 219–240. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2013.878242 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2013.878242
Braun, V., and V. Clarke. 2006. “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology.” Qualitative Research in Psychology 3 (2): 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa DOI: https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Clandinin, D., M. T. Cave, and C. Berendonk. 2017. “Narrative Inquiry: A Relational Research Methodology for Medical Education.” Medical Education 51 (1): 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13136 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/medu.13136
Daidone, S., B. Davis, S. Handa, and P. Winters. 2017. “The Household and Individual-Level Economic Impacts of Cash Transfer Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Accessed November 15, 2023. https://doi.org/10.18356/005ab3f5-en DOI: https://doi.org/10.18356/005ab3f5-en
David, M., and C. Sutton. 2011. Social Research: An Introduction. Los Angeles: Sage.
De Haan, A. 2014. “The Rise of Social Protection in Development: Progress, Pitfalls and Politics.” European Journal of Development Research 26 (3): 311–321. https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2014.7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/ejdr.2014.7
Fisher, E., R. Attah, V. Barca, C. O’Brien, S. Brook, J. Holland, A. Kardan, S. Pavanello, and P. Pozarny. 2017. “The Livelihood Impacts of Cash Transfers in Sub-Saharan Africa: Beneficiary Perspectives from Six Countries.” World Development 99 (1): 299–319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.05.020
Gertler, P., S. Martinez, and M. Rubio-Codina. 2012. “Investing Cash Transfers to Raise Long-Term Living Standards.” American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 4 (1): 164–192. https://doi.org/10.1257/app.4.1.164 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/app.4.1.164
Giddens, A. 1984. The Constitution of Society: Outline of Structuration Theory. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Gray, D. 2014. Doing Research in the Real World. London: Sage.
ILO (International Labour Organization) 2014. “World Social Protection Report 2014/115: Building Economic Recovery, Inclusive Development and Social Justice.” Accessed August 20, 2023. https://www.ilo.org/global/research/global-reports/world-social-security report/2014/WCMS_245201/lang--en/index.htm
Jolly, R. 2010. “The UN and Development Policies.” United Nations. Accessed September 10, 2023. https://www.unhistory.org/briefing/7UNandDevStrategies.pdf
Josselson, R. 2007. “The Ethical Attitude in Narrative Research: Principles and Practicalities.” In Handbook of Narrative Inquiry: Mapping a Methodology, edited by D. J. Clandinin, 537–566. Thousand Oaks: Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452226552.n21 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452226552.n21
Lieblich, A., R. Tuval-Mashiach, and T. Zibler. 2011. “Discussion: Choices and Evaluation in Narrative Research.” In Narrative Research, edited by A. Lieblich, R. Tuval-Mashiach and T. Zilber, 165–174. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
Monchuk, V. 2013. “Reducing Poverty and Investing in People: The New Role of Safety Nets in Africa.” World Bank. Accessed October 4, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0094-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-0094-8
National Treasury. 2024. “Estimates of National Expenditure 2024.” Accessed April 4, 2024. https://www.treasury.gov.za/documents/National%20Budget/2024/ene/FullENE.pdf
Nnaeme, C. 2018. “Social Grants, Developmental Agency, and Livelihood Improvements of Beneficiaries.” PhD diss., University of Johannesburg.
Nnaeme, C. 2020. “How Cash Transfers Activate Beneficiaries’ Decision-Making in Livelihood Activities in South Africa.” Development Southern Africa 38 (2): 282–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2020.1834352 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2020.1834352
Nnaeme, C. 2022. “Gender-Related Challenges of Cash Transfer Beneficiaries Involved in the Informal Economy in Johannesburg.” Development Southern Africa 39 (3): 470–484. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2022.2029355 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2022.2029355
Nnaeme, C., L. Patel, and S. Plagerson. 2020. “How Cash Transfers Enable Agencies and Livelihoods in South Africa.” World Development 131 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104956 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.104956
Nnaeme, C., L. Patel, and S. Plagerson. 2021a. “Assets, Cash Transfers and Urban Livelihoods in South Africa.” Journal of International Development 33 (2): 382–395. https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3527 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jid.3527
Nnaeme, C., L. Patel, and S. Plagerson. 2021b. “Livelihood Activities and Well-Being Outcomes of Cash Transfer Beneficiaries in Soweto, South Africa.” Development in Practice 32 (1): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1911950 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1911950
Oosterom, M. 2016. “Power, Violence, Citizenship, and Agency: A Review of the Literature.” Institute of Development Studies. Accessed September 30, 2023. https://www.ids.ac.uk/projects/power-violence-citizenship-and-agency/
Patel, L. 2015. Social Welfare and Social Development. 2nd ed. Cape Town: Oxford University Press.
Patel, L., and M. Ulriksen. 2017. “Doornkop in Perspective: Context and Approach.” In Development, Social Policy, and Community Action Lessons from Below, edited by L. Patel and M. Ulriksen, 3–23. Pretoria: HSRC Press.
Polkinghorne, D. 1995. “Narrative Configuration in Qualitative Analysis.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 8 (1): 5–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1911950 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0951839950080103
RSA (Republic of South Africa). 1996. Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996. Pretoria: Department of Justice.
Seekings, J., and N. Nattrass. 2015. Policy, Politics, and Poverty in South Africa. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137452696 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137452696
Sewell, W. H. 1992. “A Theory of Structure: Duality, Agency, and Transformation.” American Journal of Sociology 98 (1): 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1086/229967 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/229967
Skoufias, E., and V. di Maro. 2008. “Conditional Cash Transfers, Adult Work Incentives, and Poverty.” Journal of Development Studies 44 (7): 935–960. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380802150730 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00220380802150730
Steyn, D. 2023. “Here’s How South Africa’s Social Grant System Has Changed since 1994. SASSA Pays 26-Million Grants Every Month.” Ground Up. Accessed May 16, 2023. https://groundup.org.za/article/heres-how-south-africas-social-grant-system-has-changed-since-1994/
UN (United Nations). 2015. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. New York: United Nations.
Van Niekerk, R. 2003. “The Evolution of Health and Welfare Policies in South Africa: Inherited Institutions, Fiscal Restraint, and the Deracialisation of Social Policy in the Post-Apartheid Era.” Journal of African American History 88 (4): 361–376. https://doi.org/10.2307/3559086 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/3559086
World Bank. 1990. “Poverty: World Development Report 1990.” Accessed May 16, 2023. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/424631468163162670/pdf/PUB85070REPL ACEMENT0WDR01990.pdf
World Bank. 2014. “The State of Social Safety Nets 2014.” Accessed July 16, 2023. http://documents.worldbank.org/...201405175114103/.../879840WP0FINAL00Box385208B0
World Bank. 2015. “The State of Social Safety Nets 2015.” Accessed November 6, 2023. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/22101
World Bank. 2018. “The State of Social Safety Nets 2018.” Accessed November 6, 2023. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/29115/
Zembe-Mkabile, W., R. Surender, D. Sanders, R. Swart, V. Ramokolo, G. Wright, and T. Doherty 2018. “‘To Be a Woman Is to Make A Plan’: A Qualitative Study Exploring Mothers’ Experiences of the Child Support Grant in Supporting Children’s Diets and Nutrition in South Africa.” BMJ Open Journals: Nutrition and Metabolism Research 8 (4): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019376 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019376
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
