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Social protection in South Africa

Author

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  • Haroon Bhorat
  • Morné Oosthuizen

Abstract

South Africa has a relatively well-developed social protection system for a middle-income country. Despite its roots in the country's racially discriminatory past, the system has been repurposed post-apartheid to address deep poverty and severe inequality. This paper explores key characteristics of the current social protection system, highlighting its large scale and reach. Given high unemployment, the scope of social insurance is relatively limited and the social protection system is largely geared towards social assistance.

Suggested Citation

  • Haroon Bhorat & Morné Oosthuizen, 2026. "Social protection in South Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2026-11, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    • Handle: RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2026-11
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