“I have just given up. I tell myself every night that I am never going to get this money. August next year, the child is turning 18 and that is the end of grant money anyway.” Another participant from the same group expressed frustration with SASSA officials. She said that her visits to SASSA offices had been frustrating and unhelpful, so she ultimately gave up on applying. As this caregiver put it: “These people [SASSA officials] are meant to serve us, but when you get there you just lose hope. I went in 2006 and went again in 2010. I have just lost hope; I am tired.”43
2.5.5 Refugees A refugee, as defined by the Refugees Act 130 of 1998, is a person to whom the South African state has granted asylum. According to Section 3 of the Act, a person qualifies for refugee status: • Owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted because of characteristics like his or her race, tribe or religion. • Because violence has forced him or her to leave his or her place of habitual residence in order to seek refuge elsewhere.44 While South African law has not always allowed refugees to access social assistance, an amendment to the Social Assistance Act in 2012 extended eligibility to refugees, permitting them to access the Older Persons Grant, the CSG and, as of late, the FCG. As long as grant recipients maintain their refugee status and meet the other eligibility criteria, they and their children remain eligible for social grants. Despite the legal provision granting refugees access to social assistance, a number of barriers have resulted in the exclusion of eligible children from these grants. Lack of documentation South African law allows refugees to be foster parents. However, it can be difficult for refugees to claim grants because they often lack documentation such as the child’s birth certificate, identity documents and death certificates of the parents. SASSA has tried to ease these barriers, with help from the DHA. Refugees can use their refugee card or permit to work when applying for a grant. Moreover, the DHA now issues an alternative birth document to refugee children which SASSA accepts in lieu of a birth certificate.45 Yet very frequently refugees do not have these documents. In an interview with a community leader who works with refugees in Western Cape, the informant said that SASSA officials require complex documentation for foster care placement for refugees. 46 Since many of these children lack proper documentation, they end up being excluded from receiving the grant. Once the documentation possessed by refugees expires, they may experience delays in obtaining and renewing their refugee status. 47 Without a valid refugee permit, foreigners cannot access social grants, until such time as they manage to renew their permit. The lack of an official birth certificate is another hurdle for refugee children. A birth certificate is not always required to receive treatment at clinics; it is required, however, to register for grants and apply for
43 44 45 46 47
Focus group discussion, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, 9 July 2015. Government of South Africa, Refugee Act 130, Section 3, 1998. Interview with National Senior Grants Administration Manager, 11 March 2016. Key informant interview, Western Cape, 18 June 2015. Key informant interview, Western Cape, 18 June 2015.
2. Exclusion from grant receipt: Identifying the children
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