To The President’s Statement On Child Support Grant

2003-02-12

The Alliance for Children’s Entitlement to Social Security (ACESS) will be holding a press conference on the 14 of February at 15h00 at IDASA Offices in Spin Street to provide a response to the President’s state-of-the-nation address, particularly on the extension of the Child Support Grant (CSG).

ACESS is a national Alliance of over 300 organisations who work daily with children and witness the poverty in which they live. ACESS is calling for the introduction of a comprehensive social security system, including a universal grant for children up to 18 years.

The President is widely expected by the children’s sector to announce the extension of the Child Support Grant in his state-of-the-nation address on Friday.

ACESS Advocacy Coordinator, Solange Rosa says, “Extending the Child Support Grant to all children under 18 would be a good first step towards a basic income grant for everyone.”

The current Child Support Grant, introduced in 1998, was a response to the inequitable system of social security, which existed under apartheid. The grant, targeted at the neediest 30% of children, was conceived to give support to the primary caregivers of children between birth and seven years only.

“Despite much-needed changes to the administration of the grant and an increase in the amount since its first introduction, it is clear that this is not sufficient to address the ever-increasing rate of poverty in which children are currently living,” said Rosa.

It is estimated that over 14.3 million children in South Africa live in poverty on less than R400 per capita per month. Only 15% children of those who qualify, receive the Child Support Grant. The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) estimates that 11 million children in South Africa are living in dire poverty on less than R200 per capita per month.

For more information contact:

Solange Rosa - 084 408 2956 or (021) 761 0117 Email: solange@acess.org.za

Zama Mvulane - 084 350 2489 or (021) 689 8303 Email: zama@rmh.uct.ac.za

Laura Pollecut - 082 765 2084 Email: pollecut@mweb.co.za

Press Conference panel members: Mama Darlina Tyawana, New Women's Movement; Isobel Frye, Black Sash and BIG Coalition; Sharon September, Grassroots Educare Centre; Zama Mvulane, Children's Institute; Denise Damon, Women on Farms Project; Solange Rosa, ACESS; Shaamela Cassiem, IDASA..