Abstract
This dissertation investigates the influence of the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant on poverty and livelihoods among the youth in Katlehong, with the aim of addressing pertinent socio-economic challenges. The primary research question explores the impact of the SRD grant on the lives of young men and women in the region, as mentioned above. The study focuses on key objectives, including understanding the barriers faced by beneficiaries in accessing the SRD grant, evaluating the utilisation patterns of the grant among the youth, and analysing the role of the SRD grant in their pursuit of economic opportunities.
Through qualitative inquiry, this research sheds light on the crucial role of the SRD grant in poverty alleviation and its implications for the youth in Katlehong. The theory of intersectionality is adopted to shed light on different experiences of poverty across genders. The findings from the data collected through in-depth interviews highlight that the SRD grant has impacted poverty alleviation and ensured food security. The young participants in the study, however, stated that the SRD grant was insufficient to cover their basic needs. Other findings that emanated from the study showed that unemployment and social grants have altered traditional gender roles, and men are losing their place as family breadwinners.