(Volume 4) - Mental Health Disorders - Vula - University of Cape Town

problems. Among those eligible for social security under the current systemthere is a large gap between who is eligible and who receives the grant.Statistics from the National Department of Social Development, for example,show that of the 3.3 million children eligible, only 1.5 million received thechild support grant.Accessing child support grants is particularly difficult in rural areas. Despitethe successes of this programme, there are many problems: (1) the primarycaregiver is required to show proof of identity, employment income and othermeans of child-support. Evidence has shown that the most poor are unable tofulfil these requirements due to insufficient means to pay for these documentsor for transport to the relevant government departments (police, homeaffairs, social services) (Leatt, Rosa, & Hall, 2005; Giese et al., 2003). (2)The number of children in a house is not considered, as such a person earningR1200 per month with 5 children would not be eligible, yet a women earningR1000 with one child will be eligible (Leatt et al., 2005). These problemshighlight some of the difficulties associated with accessing social security inSouth Africa.A further problem is the exclusion of many South Africans who need socialsecurity but are not eligible for it under the current system. Frustration withthe social security system has led to the campaign for a Basic Income Grantwhich has yet to be approved by government (Naidoo et al 2004).The Department of Social Development has recently launched a DiscussionDocument entitled Linking Social Grants Beneficiaries to Poverty Alleviationand Economic Activity (Western Cape Department of Social Development2006). The document details strategies to increase the movement of socialassistance recipients to employment which include creating employment fordisabled people and single mothers, particularly in civil service.‣ There are many barriers to accessing exisiting social assistancegrants: the poorest have the least access to these grants.‣ Many South Africans live below the poverty line and are not eligiblefor social assistance.‣ The Department of Social Development is launching a programme tolink social assistance recipients to employment.5. NGO poverty-alleviation programmesThere are a range of projects run by non-governmental organisations whichalleviate poverty and can assist with this objective for example, Men on theSide of the Road, Ikamva Labantu and The Big Issue. To quote one example,the Big Issue recruits people who are homeless, living in “vulnerableaccommodation” or long-term unemployed to be magazine vendors(www.bigissue.com/southafrica/). Since 1996 it has registered 2,524 vendorswho are able to access a “social support programme’ which includesalcohol/drug support meetings, computer, art and literacy classes, “job club’”and assistance with finding accommodation. This organisation appears to49