Photo: Chris Kirchhoff, MediaClubSouthAfrica.com

The CSG, introduced in 1998, is a major publicly funded unconditional cash transfer programme designed to reduce poverty among children in poor households. At present the CSG covers about 7.5 million children aged 0-15, and amounts to about ZAR190 per month (approximately US$24) costing around 0.7% of GDP. The extension will mean an extra 2 million children will be covered. This is an important development not only for the children and families concerned, but for a number of child-oriented NGOs and governmental think tanks. For some time now these bodies have been advocating to continue the coverage up to age 18. For instance, this intention was expressed in the influential report of the 2000 Taylor Committee which recommended the extension of the CSG to all children up to 18.

Arguably, the context of the crisis generated a unique opportunity to extend social security coverage. The South African response to the crisis has meant that more money was made available for social spending, which has enabled the government to commit further resources to social security and make good on longstanding commitments, as evidenced by the extension of the CSG.

Sources

Mail and Guardian. 2009. Treasury spells out key spending priorities . www.mg.co.za/article/2009-10-27-treasury-spells-out-key-spending-priorities

Ensor, L. 2009. Cabinet hikes age limit for grants to children.
www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=84780

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