Disbursing of social security grants : a case of uMgungundlovu District, South Africa

Abstract

The strategic features of this study were to create new understanding of existing issues and identify new and emerging issues worthy of investigation and explanation. The distribution of disability grants is a long-standing practice that has been a way of life to people living with disability since the dawn of democracy, which started as of the year 1994. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of disbursing social security grants at Pietermaritzburg office KwaZulu–Natal. Although the ability for South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is to execute the distribution of social grants, the practice over the years is mounted with allegations of issues of fraud, maladministration and dissatisfaction of beneficiaries. The SASSA is required to provide the services aligned to administrative approaches and systems of transmitting disability grants within SASSA institutions in South Africa and provide social relief of distress to beneficiaries. The study adopted a qualitative research methodology to collect and analyse data. The intention of using a qualitative paradigm is to respond to specific questions that directs to the applications in real world situation, and be able to address the specific societal problems. This study factors associated with ineffectiveness of the distribution processing of grants and implications for grant beneficiaries. A majority of selected respondents perceived the disability grant policy as unjust and saw very little hope of improvement. This study recommends the value of chain in the distribution of disability grants by training the employees, improving the infrastructures and the capacity of SASSA in providing the disability grants at Pietermaritzburg office.