The effects of the government’s Covid-19 social relief of distress grant programme in Mathole Ville

Thumbnail Image

Date

2023

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic generated major setbacks in South Africa, mainly in terms of a decrease in employment opportunities, increased poverty, and economic hardships. To reduce the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the government implemented the Social Relief of Distress Grant (SRDG), which targeted those who had no source of income. Despite all these efforts, unemployment and poverty continue to rise. The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of the SRDG programme in Mathole Ville, a neighbourhood west of Johannesburg. The study found that government spending in the form of the Covid-19 SRDG increased demand and supply due to beneficiaries spending their funds on neighbourhood businesses, resulting in an increase in neighbourhood businesses turnover. However, the increase in turnover could not increase workers' income or employment opportunities. The study also found that the Covid-19 SRDG did not alleviate poverty as recipients remained below the poverty line

Description

The research report submitted to the Faculty of Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in 50% fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management (in the field of Public and Development Sector Monitoring and Evaluation). February, 2023

Keywords

Livelihoods, Poverty, Unemployment, Neighbourhood, Cash transfers, UCTD

Citation

Lidaga, Olga Refiloe. (2023). The effects of the government’s Covid-19 social relief of distress grant programme in Mathole Ville [Master’s dissertation, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/38971

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By