A step in the wrong direction: linking the South Africa Child Support Grant to school attendance

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Abstract
Placing conditionalities on cash transfers imposes costs on those seeking the benefit, and on the implementing institutions. A small, unconditional but means-tested regular cash transfer – the Child Support Grant (CSG) – for young South African children in households living in poverty was introduced in 1998. A new regulation requires that beneficiaries attending school have to show proof of regular attendance twice a year. Education is highly valued in South Africa, and school attendance is not a priority problem. The quality of education for children from households in poverty is, however, dismal. Unnecessary additional administrative burdens will now be imposed. All the evidence points strongly against the new policy.

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