Poverty and inequality remain high in South Africa. Social grants are a mechanism
implemented by the government to eradicate poverty. Post-apartheid South Africa
has achieved significant transformation to adjust the ills imposed by the previous
administration. Part of this transformation includes the transformation of the public
service to render services effectively, efficiently and ethically. The focus of this study
was to investigate how the administration of the Old Age Grants influences the
livelihoods of beneficiaries in the Kgautswane rural community. Policy without
effective, efficient and ethical implementation is as much use as none at all. The
study investigated how policies of social security are implemented by people into
practices that influence the quality of lives of beneficiaries.
In the past, the use of grants was constrained by the complexity of the application
process and onerous documentation requirements. This meant that many of those
eligible for grants were not receiving them. Application was also complicated by the
fact that the Department of Social Development, responsible for the administration of
the grants, had inadequate capacity. In recognition of these constraints, the
government endeavoured to simplify the grant administration process by establishing
South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), an agency that is responsible for
administering social grants. The Department of Social Development retained
responsibility for policy development. Alleviating poverty will remain a key challenge
for government.
Social welfare is a necessity for South Africa as developmental state, but this
implies that there is a need for a concerted effort by government to ensure the
appropriate administration of this system to the benefit of the country, including the
tax payers who fund the system. Beneficiaries remain dependent on the system for
their continued livelihood, and the effective, efficient and ethical administration of the
system will contribute to the development of a capable state, able to sustain the
social contract with its citizens.