Forthcoming Project
Covid-19 and Social Grants
The Black Sash, EngenAs Senona, Erin Torkelson, and Wanga Zembe
OVER 100 INTERVIEWS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, SOCIAL GRANTEES, AND PARALEGAL FIELDWORKERS
FROM ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA
FROM ACROSS SOUTH AFRICA
During the devastating spread of Covid-19 around the globe, the South African Government launched several new Covid-19 grants to help those worst affected by poverty and unemployment. Their flagship grant, the Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress Grant, targeted 19 to 59 year olds with little or no income, who had been excluded by previous social assistance programs. They also introduced a Caregivers Grant for adults caring for children under 18, who were already receiving child support and foster care grants. Delivering these new granst during a pandemic, while vitally necessary, came with many new challenges and exclusions. Based on extensive interviews around the country, we have explored these challenges and will be publishing our results in early 2021.