The constitutionality of the right to social security in South Africa: the case of South African women

Abstract

This paper contributes to the current debate on the constitutionality of South African's poor to social security through the examination of the relevant constitutional provisions, the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997), Social Assistance Act (1992), and the Taylor Committee Report (2002). The paper argues that although there are provisions within these legal frameworks, there are also phrases which reiterate the progressive implementation of these provisions. The government is therefore using them as a defense mechanism against the introduction of the basic income grant. The paper concludes that the recommendation of the Taylor Committee Report (2002) should be adhered to if poverty is to be reduced in South Africa as well as the full respect of the rights of the poor as enshrined in the constitution and other legal frameworks.

African Journal of Cross-Cultural psychology and sport facilitation (AJCPSF) Vol. 9 2007: pp. 12-25