The role of informal social security in an inter-generational society

This paper gives a brief overview of the current formal social security provisioning in South Africa with regards to old age and retirement benefits. It then investigates issues impacting on the ageing population namely unemployment, HIV/AIDS and poverty. The author also explores the importance of informal social security as a mechanism by which old-age marginalisation can be overcome, in tandem with shortcomings in these networks. The paper recommends that the South African social security system play a pivotal role in poverty alleviation and provision of social security for those excluded in terms of the formal system.