Child support grants 'simply not enough'

Mastoera Sadan is Programme Manager of the Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development. Picture: Noni Mokati

Mastoera Sadan is Programme Manager of the Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development. Picture: Noni Mokati

Published Nov 14, 2017

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The governement's child support grant has yet again come under the spotlight, with researchers and policymakers saying it is simply not enough to address children's needs.

A study themed: "Family contexts, child support grants and child well-being in South Africa" sampled up to 3 132 children under eight who lived with their families in Doornkop, Soweto and in Moutse, Limpopo's Sekhukhune District. Quantitative data used included national statistical data and also drew from the National Income Dynamic Survey wave of 2008. 

Reading the outcomes of the study UJ Professor for Social Development Studies Leila Patel said the aim of the report was cast focus on how Child Support Grants (CSGs) can be improved.

Patel says failure to deliver the Child Support Grant will have a negative effect on Child food security #childgrant @IOL pic.twitter.com/ucdMoNH3SM

— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) November 14, 2017

"What we wanted to do was to build on strength of CSG and poverty reduction," she said.

She added the PSPPD had called for proposals around child grants to be made adding the Centre decided to pitch their report on families.

Patel reveals shocking figures of monthly income in some households with some surviving on as little as R394 p/m #childgrant @IOL pic.twitter.com/El2r6X5XcJ

— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) November 14, 2017

"Our research flows directly from past research. While the CSG is doing well,  Although the CSG is doing so well, we argue it is not enough. It is not sufficient to address multifaceted needs children have," she said.

It is thought that up to 12 million receive R380 in child support grant money every month.

Six out of 10 children also live below the poverty line.

Patel - 6 out of 10 children live below the poverty line.. stunting is a huge factor for child growth #childgrant @IOL

— Noni Mokati (@Noni_M2) November 14, 2017

Patel said 80 percent of eligible children were still not receiving a grant, adding this was detrimental to their health and well-being.

"Poverty is a risk factor for growth and development of children," she said.

She emphasised that failure by the government to deliver on child grants negatively impacted on children's food security.

Politics and Development

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