1. SOCIAL SECURITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS: THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE
Dr B Simpson, School of Social Work and Community Development, University of KwaZulu- Natal, Durban, South Africa 1

2. South Africa

3. BACKGROUND: Facts about South Africa Population: 49,99 million
Almost one third (31,4%) are age 15 and below
7,5% are aged 60 and above
Racially diverse society – majority of population are African who have different cultural and linguistic traditions

4. BACKGROUND, cont
SA has long history of colonial and apartheid oppression of African people by White minority
1994: First democratic election
1996: New constitution adopted with Bill of Rights – intention was to ensure that human rights were at the heart of all legislation and that human rights abuses would never again occur in SA

5. POVERTY IN SA Official unemployment rate: 25,3%
Unofficial unemployment rate: Approx 40%
An estimated one third of economically active Africans are in full time employment
Most job seekers in their 20s and 30s have never had employment – concern because these young people are not gaining skills and experience for the future

6. POVERTY IN SA, cont Poverty as a human rights issue:
Range of social problems associated with unemployment – obvious effect on food security, shelter, health but also crime, disengagement with political processes, loss of hope for the future
THEREFORE, imperative that we address poverty

7. INEQUALITY IN SA Gini co-efficient: 0,578 (10th in world)
Higher among African households than non African households (so inequality no longer between African and White, but between Africans)
Range of social problems associated with inequality – growing alienation and anger that poor people have not benefited from new government

8. SOCIAL SECURITY AS A HUMAN RIGHT
UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Art 22: right to social security
Art 25: right to security in event of unemployment, sickness, widowhood, disability, old age and other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond the control of the individual
Also: International covenant on economic, social and cultural rights

9. SOCIAL SECURITY AS A HUMAN RIGHT
The SA Constitution
Section 27.1 of Bill of Rights: right to social security
Section 28 specifically guarantees the rights of children to care and protection, including social services

10. THE SA WELFARE SYSTEM Pre 1994: Residual welfare system
Focus on curative services – casework with individuals and very little community work
Tended to be based in urban areas with neglect of rural areas
Residential care for vulnerable people
Paternalistic view of welfare (worthy and unworthy people)

11. THE SA WELFARE SYSTEM, cont
IN ADDITION: The welfare system was discriminatory
Apartheid enforced through wide range of legislation
Race determined benefits and access to services
Benefits and services were unequal

12. THE SA WELFARE SYSTEM, cont
Post 1994: Developmental welfare approach with the adoption of the White paper for Social Welfare 1997
Rights based approach to social welfare
Greater focus on preventive and community based programmes, especially those that would link people with opportunities for income generation
Interestingly, retained the commitment to social security as a poverty alleviation measure

13. SOCIAL SECURITY IN SA:
New government inherited fairly well established, albeit discriminatory system of social security:
1928: Old Age Pension for Whites
1944: Old Age Pensions extended to other race groups but Whites received higher amount
1947: Maintenance grant for single parents
Also: War veterans pension, disability grants and foster care grants were introduced

14. SOCIAL SECURITY IN SA, cont
Post 1994: SA has 6 non contributory, means tested state grants:
Old age pension (and War veterans pension):R per month (+/-100 euros)
Child support grant (which replaced maintenance grant): R per month
Foster care grant: R per month
Disability grant: R per month
Care dependency grant: R1080 per month

15. SOCIAL SECURITY IN SA, cont
SA also has contributory social assistance measures:
Unemployment Insurance Fund: Employed people contribute to this fund and can claim benefits when unemployed and women on maternity leave can claim maternity benefits.
GAPS: There is no protection for never employed or those unemployed for long periods of time

16. SUCCESSES Wide coverage: OAP supports entire households
Nearly 14 million people get social security
66% of these are getting the CSG
18% are getting the OAP
12% are getting the DG
OAP supports entire households

17. SUCCESSES, cont CSG linked with Improved school attendance
Improved health in terms of growth
Children who live with mothers more likely to be getting the grant

18. CHALLENGES Means test still excludes whole categories of people
Child headed households
Street children
People who are just above the threshold
Old people who own property but have low income
People who don’t have identity documents

19. CHALLENGES, cont Unintended consequences HIV+ people not taking ARVs
Recipients of grants not accepting part time work (so they are not getting experience)
Community perceptions that teens are falling pregnant to access grant but leaving infant in care of grandparents
Low level of support, especially CSG, keeps people poor

20. CHALLENGES, cont Concerns about
Sustainability: only 10% of population pay taxes
Long term effects of ‘culture of dependency” in terms of work seeking behaviour, sense of self worth and emotional well being

21. SOME QUESTIONS??
Is social security the best way to reduce poverty and inequality??
Is right to social security an “absolute” right?
If social security is not comprehensive and universal, can it be considered a human right?
What is the role of social workers in ensuring that those who are eligible, receive what is their “right”?
What is the role of social workers in working towards a better society (where social security would not be needed?)