South African Social Grant: A Building Block of a Developmental State

This book has come out at the very critical time when traditional social protection system has almost disappeared because families in various communities are struggling to support themselves. This is because of the deepening of poverty and the overwhelming increase of joblessness. Only a few countries in Africa provide state social grants to vulnerable groups such as the elderly children and the disabled. The majority of African countries are not providing such grants though they are financially capable. This might be lack of political will to do so or awareness of the developmental impact of social grants. Social grants contribute to development through providing an income reducing illiteracy rate and increasing life expectancy.