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Government’s Covid-19 Social Grant in South Africa: A Synopsis of the Effect on Recipients

Author

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  • Mokoena Sipho

    (University of Limpopo, Graduate School of Leadership, Edu-Park, Webster Street 0699, Polokwane, South Africa)

  • Ngwakwe Collins

    (University of Limpopo, Graduate School of Leadership, Edu-Park, Webster Street 0699, Polokwane, South Africa)

Abstract

This paper presents a synopsis of recipients’ benefits from the South African COVID-19 social relief fund. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the key benefit of the COVID-19 special grant and if the Grant had a positive impact in the lives of recipients and their family members. The paper applied a mix of succinct review and thematic analysis. Secondary data collection was from the archive of survey questionnaires conducted by the Department of Social Development. Findings from the thematic graphical analysis of the recipients’ responses show that more than 93% of the COVID grant recipients used the fund for food. Furthermore, over 88% avowed that the grant had a positive impact in their lives and over 79% of the grant recipients indicated that the fund had a positive impact in the lives of their family members. The findings offer practical and policy implication for government’s social security agency. The recipients’ acceptance of positive benefit regarding food and overall effect on wellbeing is an indication that extension of the COVID-19 social relief fund or conversion thereof to unemployment security assistance might have the propensity to provide relief from poverty and hunger to recipients and improve social wellbeing. The paper highlights the imperative for further research to expand this analysis by using other countries for a comparative analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Mokoena Sipho & Ngwakwe Collins, 2022. "Government’s Covid-19 Social Grant in South Africa: A Synopsis of the Effect on Recipients," HOLISTICA – Journal of Business and Public Administration, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 93-101, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:hjobpa:v:13:y:2022:i:2:p:93-101:n:3
    DOI: 10.2478/hjbpa-2022-0017
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Haroon Bhorat & Morné Oosthuizen & Ben Stanwix, 2021. "Social Assistance Amidst the COVID‐19 Epidemic in South Africa: A Policy Assessment," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 89(1), pages 63-81, March.
    2. Dalal, Jyotirmoy, 2022. "Food donation management under supply and demand uncertainties in COVID-19: A robust optimization approach," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    3. Khan, Syed Abdul Rehman & Razzaq, Asif & Yu, Zhang & Shah, Adeel & Sharif, Arshian & Janjua, Laeeq, 2022. "Disruption in food supply chain and undernourishment challenges: An empirical study in the context of Asian countries," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 82(PA).
    4. Youcef Ghellab & Nancy Varela & John Woodall, 2011. "Social dialogue and social security governance: A topical ILO perspective," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 64(4), pages 39-56, October.
    5. Christopher Ansell & Eva Sørensen & Jacob Torfing, 2021. "The COVID-19 pandemic as a game changer for public administration and leadership? The need for robust governance responses to turbulent problems," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(7), pages 949-960, July.
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