Social Pensions in Nambia and South Africa

Initially motivated by a complex combination of welfarist and political objectives, including the control of African urbanisation and ‘winning hearts and minds’ during South Africa’s occupation of Namibia, the social pension has sustained millions of poor families for decades.

The paper reviews the administrative history of the social pension and then presents evidence of the social and economic impacts, drawing on a household survey carried out in three contrasting Namibian communities. Apart from providing non-covariate income against livelihood shocks such as drought, the social pension stimulates local trade, enhances the status of elderly family members, and contributes to the costs of primary and secondary education. While concerns have been raised about the fiscal sustainability of the social pension, its future as a social assistance programme depends mainly on political commitment. [author]