The role of different stakeholders in expanding social protection systems with limited resources. Lessons from South Africa. 2 October 2013
Outline of Presentation Rights based foundation for social protection in SA. The Policy context: poverty unemployment, income inequality and Apartheid racial policies. Successes in expanding social protection Remaining challenges Role of diverse stakeholders
Social protection is rights - based The South Agrican constitution provides for justiciable rights to housing, health care, adequate food and water, social security (including social assistance) and education (sections 26 to 28). All but the right to basic education are however subject to an internal progressive realisation clause conditional on available resources (note difference with maximum resources of ICESCR which SA still promises to ratify). Justiciable rights, despite separation of state and budgetary perogative of the executive. Historic landmark casess handed down by the Constitutonal Court, including Grootboom, laying down jurisprudence of application of law.
Policy in the South African context High levels of formal unemployment 36% of labour force, poverty btwn 20 to 60%, and high income inequality - potentially highest in the world, 0,63 Gini. The average income in the highest income decile in 2010 was R461 804, a 70.3% increase since 2005, while in the lowest income decil, the average income was R1 727 pppa in 2010 Legacy of exclusions and rights- denial under Apartheid for majority of black SAns. Lack of ability to accumulate and provide for future needs. Ongoing means test discouarges savings. Relatively low levels of contribution to social insurance (private pensions disability, public RAF add UIF) as a result. Social assistance cash transfers increased to 15 million/ 50 million people. Direct nature of the cash transfers have led to it being hailed as most successful poverty alleviation programme in SA. Developmental nature of social assistance slowly being realised.
Successes ) Dismantling of Apartheid polices, collapsing of 19 departments into one DSD. Establishment of SASSA in 2004. Roll out of cash transfers: Child Support Grant (0- u18): 11 mill, R290 pppm Disability Grant (adults and children): 1,2 mill, R1260 pppm Old Age Pension (60+): 2,8 mill, R1260 pppm Foster Care Grant: 521 000, R800 pppm. Victories: CSG rolled out from 7 to 18 years, equalisation of pension age for men and women to 60 years. Cost to state: 3,5% of GDP.
Challenges System based on notion of full (white) male employment with contribution to social insurance. Completely inadequate for current needs. No access for working age people, 18 to 59 Dilution of targeting of cash transfers, smaller households have greater dependency ratio No indexing between value of cash grants and basic needs Relatively small number of PIT payers due to income inequality
Challenges (cont) Ideological contestation welfare state seen as patronising compared to perceived developmental state. View held across class and race, despite lack of real explanation and despite empirical evidence to the contrary International move away from universal social welfare to targeting. Social policy expansion undertaken in ad hoc manner around single issue interest groups children, old age pensions. Need a comprehensive road map that plots course for full universal enjoyment.
Opportunities Further constitutional litigation (call for road map for universal access rather than interest specific patchwork of litigation preferable). Research into developmental impact of social assistance Establishment of national retirement scheme and migration of current funds, concerted efforts to encourage (subsidised) self provisioning SPII s PR measurement indicators adopted by SAHRC. Use of ICESCR ratification International practices Brazil and the Bolsa Familia and CCTs in Latin America Ideological contestations: Nordic universal model?
Roles of Stakeholders CSOs research and constitutional litigation and rights education to stimulate demand from people affected by lack of access to rights. BUT, litigation without grass roots ownership will not win sustainable gains. Ideas should come from people, not technical experts see Social Protection Floor approach. Establish institutions for education, consultation Trade Unions: critical policy role given tripartitie alliance with the ruling party and the SACP. Strategic use of ILO Decent Work agenda, and mass based membership political leverage. 2014 national and provincial election manifestos. Media: debunking myths and misperceptions, re-humanising poverty and solidarity.
SPII what do we do? Research qualitative participatory research and international best practices. Strategic targeting of findings: UI Board Social Dialogue NEDLAC Lobbying of executive and ruling party SER PR Monitoring Project Basic Needs Basket Campaigns SADC BIG; ICESCR Ratification Campaign, APSP, SADC SASPEN Network building rights education and transfer of capacity.