Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic

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dc.contributor.advisorParemoer, Lauren
dc.contributor.authorVumazonke, Bulelani Janet
dc.date.accessioned2025-04-03T13:27:01Z
dc.date.available2025-04-03T13:27:01Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.date.updated2025-04-03T13:26:03Z
dc.description.abstractThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing gender disparities worldwide. Countries expanded their social protection measures in response to the socio-economic implications of the health crisis. This study explores the South African government's social protection policies, and their impact on gender inequality during the pandemic, particularly in relation to social reproduction work and labour market dynamics. It investigates the expansion of social protection programmes, with attention to the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, a temporary cash transfer programme for working-age individuals with no source of income. In the labour market, it examines the implementation of the COVID-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS), a subsidy provided to companies by the government. The research extensively reviews existing literature, South African legislation, and particularly utilises the policy recommendation by UN Women to put cash in women's hands, as a strategy to mitigate the gender inequalities associated with the pandemic. By critically evaluating the government's strategies, the study contributes to illuminating the gendered impacts of COVID-19 in South Africa. A key finding of the mini-dissertation was that the government's social protection measures did not adequately address pre-existing gender disparities, and instead favoured men more than women. The study emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to social protection, that aims to address gender inequality and values care work. It proposes the introduction of a permanent grant targeted at women caregivers—a starting point to acknowledge the value of the social reproduction work they are accountable for
dc.identifier.apacitationVumazonke, B. J. (2024). <i>Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationVumazonke, Bulelani Janet. <i>"Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationVumazonke, B.J. 2024. Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Vumazonke, Bulelani Janet AB - The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and exacerbated pre-existing gender disparities worldwide. Countries expanded their social protection measures in response to the socio-economic implications of the health crisis. This study explores the South African government's social protection policies, and their impact on gender inequality during the pandemic, particularly in relation to social reproduction work and labour market dynamics. It investigates the expansion of social protection programmes, with attention to the Special COVID-19 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant, a temporary cash transfer programme for working-age individuals with no source of income. In the labour market, it examines the implementation of the COVID-19 Temporary Employer-Employee Relief Scheme (TERS), a subsidy provided to companies by the government. The research extensively reviews existing literature, South African legislation, and particularly utilises the policy recommendation by UN Women to put cash in women's hands, as a strategy to mitigate the gender inequalities associated with the pandemic. By critically evaluating the government's strategies, the study contributes to illuminating the gendered impacts of COVID-19 in South Africa. A key finding of the mini-dissertation was that the government's social protection measures did not adequately address pre-existing gender disparities, and instead favoured men more than women. The study emphasises the necessity for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to social protection, that aims to address gender inequality and values care work. It proposes the introduction of a permanent grant targeted at women caregivers—a starting point to acknowledge the value of the social reproduction work they are accountable for DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - COVID-19 LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic TI - Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationVumazonke BJ. Social Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Political Studies, 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/41362en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066ENG
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Political Studies
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanities
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.titleSocial Protection in South Africa During COVID-19: Exploring the Recommendation by UN Women to 'Put Cash in Women's Hands' in Response to the Pandemic
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelMA
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