Abstract
Abstract : South Africa has an extensive social assistance programme reaching almost 40% of the population, and which has mitigated high poverty rates in the post-apartheid transition. A large body of literature on social protection has accrued since the late 1990s and has demonstrated significant human development outcomes as a result of social assistance around the world. Consequently, cash transfer programmes have gained traction as a viable mechanism for addressing poverty in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the positive benefits of social protection in South Africa, the insufficiency of the value of these transfers to cover the basic needs of beneficiaries points to the limitations of cash transfers in poverty reduction and eradication due to worsening poverty and unemployment. The overall research question guiding the study was “How do social grant beneficiaries use state cash transfers to improve their livelihood outcomes?” Conceptually and empirically the study brings together the themes of social protection, livelihoods and agency. In relation to this research question on cash transfers and livelihoods, the study explored two themes: the first theme focused on how beneficiaries use income received from social assistance to initiate or support income activities to improve their livelihood outcomes. Second, it explored what role human agency plays in achieving these outcomes. A narrative research design informed the study, which comprised 17 research participants, representing a varied cross-section of gender, age, and livelihood activities. The study was conducted in Doornkop, Soweto, an urban community on the outskirts of Johannesburg with high levels of poverty, unemployment, grant receipt and informal livelihood activities. In line with narrative inquiry research, methods of data collection included observation techniques and in-depth interviews. Thematic narrative analysis guided the interpretation of findings in order to represent the perspective of the beneficiaries themselves and to recognise the voice of the participants, their motivations, experiences, decisions and creativity as they set about pursuing their own goals amid significant constraints and challenges. The study demonstrated that complex and nuanced livelihood strategies were deployed within this diverse urban group of grant beneficiaries. Livelihoods were continually adjusted to respond to or mitigate the impacts of changing socio-economic circumstances and new knowledge...
D.Litt. et Phil. (Anthropology)