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Grant Grabs Three. Ceres, Western Cape. Photo Credit: Erna Curry.

public Scholarship

South Africa is my field-site and adoptive home of 15 years. Since my work is about the national social welfare program, I make my research immediately available to those it most effects. I have done so through expert testimony, policy advice, investigative journalism, and documentary film-making. My current (and past) public projects include: ​

COvid-19 and Social Grants

Debt and Social Grants
I am partnering with the Black Sash, Wanga Zembe from the Medical Research Council and Engenas Senona from the Department of Social Development. Together, we have interviewed over 100 government officials, social grantees, and paralegal fieldworkers to understand the opportunities and challenges of delivering social welfare during a global health crisis.  

Net1's Payment System

Through collaborations with the Black Sash, I investigated the material workings of Net1's digital payment infrastructure. The Black Sash legal team used the evidence gathered to litigate against predatory financial practices at the Constitutional Court, bringing grant payment from private to public control.​

Data and Digitisation

This is a new project! Publications forthcoming later this year.
I have also partnered with the Black Sash, Deborah James from the London School of Economics, and David Neves from the University of the Western Cape to explore the proliferation of payday loans to social grantees. We found even after grant payment moved to the Post Office, social grants are still used as collateral for credit.

Land and Housing

Before graduate school, I worked for seven years with South African civil society organisations. Much of my research focused on land and housing delivery with the Development Action Group and Shack Dwellers International. With these organisations, I supported social movements of Black women demanding secure, dignified housing in the city.