Social Welfare Policy in South Africa ― From the Poor White Problem to a Digitised Social Contract

Social Welfare Policy in South Africa examines the South African government’s response to social welfare challenges during and after apartheid. The book analyses social welfare policy reforms in South Africa from the social contract perspective. Through a critical analysis of the major social policy shifts in the country, the book illustrates that the provision of social welfare services is the most concrete way of fulfilling the terms of the social contract, especially in democratic South Africa. The book offers a useful approach to understanding the changes in the social welfare philosophy and practice that occurred when the country transitioned from minority to majority rule during the 1990s. By tracing the development of social welfare policy interventions over time, Social Welfare Policy in South Africa draws attention to the broader political, historical, social, and economic factors that have influenced social welfare policy in the country.

Horman Chitonge is an associate professor and the head of African Studies at the Centre for African Studies, University of Cape Town. He holds a Ph.D. in development studies from the University of Natal. He has published extensively on issues of water, agrarian political economy, poverty, and social welfare. His recent publications include Economic Growth in Africa (2015), Beyond Parliament (2016), and Customary Land in Africa (2018).

Ntombifikile Mazibuko is an emeritus professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and is currently supervising and mentoring postgraduate students in social work and social policy. She holds a Ph.D. in social work from the University of Illinois. She served as a professor and deputy vice chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and as vice chancellor at the University of Zululand. She has published extensively on welfare and social policy.