A study of state-based social assistance provision and its influence on the developmental character of the South African State: the case of the child support grant

• Main Author: Chagunda, Chance Arisitaliko
• Other Authors: Taylor, Vivienne
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: Faculty of Humanities 2020
• Subjects: political studies
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/31362

This thesis aims at examining the extent to which state-based social assistance provision, in the form of Child Support Grant (CSG), influences the character of a developmental state. Social assistance provision is understood to be part of a developmental state response to the needs of its citizens. I have argued in this thesis that CSG influences the characteristics of a developmental state in as far as it is available to all needy children who pass the means-test regardless of race. I hold the view that the developmental approach to social policy should be of great assistance in a country such as South Africa where there is mass poverty by meeting people's needs in a short to medium term but also enabling them to depend on themselves in a long term. The history of the policy context in South Africa and three approaches to social policy have been examined. These are residual, institutional and normative approaches. My emphasis has been on the approach that best suits the developmental state. I argue that the developmental state that applies a normative approach will address issues related to the eradication of poverty, poor economic opportunities as well as social deprivation and promotes self-reliance. South Africa's conceptualisation of social policy and social welfare is in keeping with a developmental state. The problem however, is the implementation of social policy and social welfare provision. In this thesis I have focused on four research questions and these are: • Can the CSG illustrate an appropriate social policy intervention of a developmental state in the context of mass poverty? • Is South Africa's conceptualisation of social policy and social welfare in keeping with a developmental state? • What impact does social assistance provision, in the form of a CSG, have on poor households? • Can such impact together with other policy interventions contribute to lifting people out of poverty and building their developmental capacity? I have used both qualitative and quantitative to examine these questions. My findings show that social assistance in the form of CSG is consistent with the developmental approach to social welfare.