Examining the use of social grants as a means to reduce income poverty: a case study of Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality in KZN.

Abstract

This research looks at income grants and the extent to which they have helped alleviate poverty in Ubuhlebezwe Local Municipality in KZN. Income grants come from government and recipients receive a monthly stipend that helps them cover for basic amenities within their household. The research sought to find out how this scheme is addressing poverty alleviation. The results of this study showed that the recipients were grateful for the social grants and that they played a vital role in their families by helping take care of a number of costs such as basic groceries. The complaints about social grants largely involved the administration of getting the money including the long queues, additional complaints about social grants were from the distances travelled and how social grants made men who did not receive them, in households in which women received social grants. feel more insecure. Although the money for social grants helped cover basic costs of goods, it was not enough to take care of other costs within the household. As such, the money for social grants does not cover household shocks such as major illnesses befalling family members and price increases of basic commodities in South Africa which have meant that the monthly amount that is received from social grants has less buying power.