Social protection and vulnerable workers in South Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 120-139
Author(s):  
Avinash Govindjee
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Vulnerable Workers

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on the economy and mental health of young people in South Africa: opportunities for strengthening social protection programmes by integrating mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-204
Author(s):  
Alejandra Álvarez-Iglesias ◽  
Emily Garman ◽  
Crick Lund
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Young People ◽  
Child Support ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Psychological Impact ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Employment Education

The majority of COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa are found in South Africa, where one third of young people are not in employment, education or training. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 virus spread, an increasing volume of studies are analysing and trying to predict the consequences of the pandemic on the economy and on physical and mental health. This article describes the economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 in South Africa’s youth specifically, the efforts made to tackle these issues, and the opportunities to integrate mental health into the country’s social protection measures, such as the Child Support Grant.

scholarly journals People with disabilities and income-related social protection measures in South Africa: Where is the gap?

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Hanass-Hancock ◽  
Tamlyn C. McKenzie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
People With Disabilities ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Severe Disabilities ◽  
Protection Measures ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Social Grants ◽  
Out Of Pocket Costs

Background: People with disabilities are at increased risk of poverty, particularly in low-and middle-income countries. However, recent evidence suggests that this association is more nuanced than previously anticipated and that we need better data to understand the opportunity and out-of-pocket costs that diverse groups of people with disabilities may experience.Objective: This paper discusses if disability is associated with opportunity cost and loss of income both on the individual and household level in South Africa, and if these costs differ depending on disability type and severity.Methods: For this purpose, the paper analyses General Household Survey 2011 data (people between 15 and 59) using descriptive statistics disaggregated via disability type and severity. The paper also assesses if social grants counteract these costs and reduce economic vulnerability.Results: The analysis of the data reveals that people with disabilities are affected by issues relating to multidimensional poverty such as lower educational attainment and fewer employment opportunities. In addition, households of people with disabilities (with the exception of milder visual problems) earn significantly less than households without people with disabilities, and this particularly applies to households with people with severe disabilities. This vulnerability also varies by disability type. The country’s social protection mechanisms, in terms of social grants, counteract economic vulnerability to some extent but do not consider the nuanced economic impact of diverse conditions nor the increased out-of-pocket costs related to disability.Conclusions: This calls for more equitable social protection mechanisms that include accessible services, livelihood programmes and disability benefits.

Factors That Protect Children From Community Violence: Applying the INSPIRE Model to a Sample of South African Children

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626051989842
Author(s):  
N. Suzanne Falconer ◽  
Marisa Casale ◽  
Caroline Kuo ◽  
Beverly J. Nyberg ◽  
Susan D. Hillis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Violence ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Interpersonal Violence ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
World Health ◽  
Young Carers ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Cross Sectional

Community violence is a prevalent form of interpersonal violence in South Africa for children living in low-income areas. Trauma arising from violence exposure is of concern in contexts where access to treatment is often unattainable. As simultaneous multisectoral strategies show higher potential to counter interpersonal violence than single interventions, the World Health Organization with partners created INSPIRE. INSPIRE takes an integrated approach coordinated across formal and informal settings of civil and private society. Responding to research paucity on methods that counter community violence in LMIC settings, this study employed a cross-sectional correlational design consisting of a sample of 2,477 children aged 10 to 17 years from the Young Carers 2009–2010 study conducted in a low-income, HIV-endemic province of South Africa highly affected by community violence. Multiple logistic regressions assessed individual and dose associations between four INSPIRE-based violence prevention strategies—positive parenting, basic necessities, formal social support, and school structural support—and direct and indirect community violence outcomes. Three strategies had significant associations with community violence outcomes: necessities (direct p < .001; adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = .57; indirect p < .01; AOR = .62), formal support (direct p < .05; AOR = .83; indirect p < .05; AOR = .73), and school support (direct p < .001; AOR = .53; indirect p < .001; AOR = .49). Combined interventions in direct and indirect community violence analyses demonstrated that children reporting a higher number of strategies were less likely to have experienced community violence. This outcome extends the results of longitudinal studies in South Africa highlighting social protection with care as a means to overcome structural deprivation strains, thereby reducing the likelihood of children’s exposure to community violence. Moreover, these findings uphold the INSPIRE model as an effective cross-sectoral approach to prevent and reduce the community violence that children experience.

Round table report: Advancing regional social integration, social protection, and the free movement of people in Southern Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Fioramonti
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Social Policy ◽  
Social Integration ◽  
South African ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Round Table ◽  
Regional Governance ◽  
Free Movement ◽  
Director General

The round table on “Advancing regional social integration, social protection, and free movement of people in Southern Africa” was organized as part of the conference “Regional governance of migration and social policy: Comparing European and African regional integration policies and practices” held at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) on 18–20 April 2012, at which the articles in this special issue were first presented. The discussion was moderated by Prince Mashele of the South African Centre for Politics and Research and the participants included: Yitna Getachew, IOM Regional Representative for Southern Africa, Migration Dialogue for Southern Africa (MIDSA); Jonathan Crush, University of Cape Town and Balsillie School of International Affairs, Canada, representing the Southern Africa Migration Program (SAMP); Vic van Vuuren, Director of Southern African ILO; Vivienne Taylor, South Africa Planning Commission; Sergio Calle Norena, Deputy Regional Representative of UNHCR; Laurent De Boeck, Director, ACP Observatory on Migration, Brussels; Wiseman Magasela, Deputy Director General Social Policy, South African Department of Social Development; and Sanusha Naidu, Open Society Foundation for South Africa.

Participatory Experiences of Women in Economic Development Cooperatives in Bhambayi, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanusha Raniga
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Economic Development ◽  
Social Protection ◽  
Survival Strategies ◽  
Intersectoral Collaboration ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Protection Policy ◽  
Nation States ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
Asset Based Community Development

Purpose: Nation states in both the Global North and South have debated the human rights and liberatory function as opposed to the dependency and economically viable function of social protection policy. This article is an attempt to advance empirical knowledge in the field of social protection policy and poverty alleviation. Method: Using participatory action methodology, I present evidence from 11 women who were involved in an arts and craft economic development cooperative in a community named Bhambayi in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Results: Underscored by the asset-based community development and sustainable livelihood frameworks, this article presents three themes: positive contributions to human capacity development, supportive intersectoral collaboration, and striving for economic self-reliance. Conclusions: This article proposes fresh strategies for women who find themselves outside the circle of secure economic livelihoods to move beyond short-term and survival strategies and work toward economic inclusion.

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