The impact of South African social welfare policies on pensioners raising orphaned grandchildren

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Very little attention has been paid in South Africa to the situations where grandmothershave become surrogate parents to their grandchildren and other vulnerable children whohave been left destitute due to the HIV/Aids epidemic. These women, who are in greatneed of support are not directly factored into Aids-related policy and care strategies,even though they play a vital role in assuming the roles of surrogate parents to theirgrandchildren. Clearly elderly women are valuable resources and are both crucial andvaluable for the role they play in the care of both Aids sufferers and Aids orphans.Grandmothers who assume such care-giving roles are not receiving specific andtargeted support from government structures. Instead they only benefit peripherally fromthe legislation within the jurisdiction of Department of Social Development and theprograms that are established by them. This study determined where government socialand welfare polices can improve the quality of life of black female pensioners who aretaking care of their orphaned grandchildren and other vulnerable children.Policy makers need to recognise that grandmothers are increasingly obliged to assumecare-giving responsibilities for dying adult children and later for orphans, when their ownphysical and cognitive abilities may be declining. Instead of using their state pensions toenjoy their old age and spend their money on looking after their health, proper housingetc., black female pensioners are forced to assume additional responsibilities in lookingafter orphaned grandchildren and other vulnerable children who require food, clothing,proper housing, education etc. Such expenses imply that their pensions are not put totheir intended uses. Due to their advanced age they find it increasingly difficult to earnincome to support young children. Until now the South African government has donelittle to support older women who find themselves in such precarious circumstances andto recognise their invaluable contributions. Various recommendations are made in thereport to improve this situation.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University