Do social grants contribute to the jobless population growth in the former South African homelands?
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
The former homelands and tribal authorities have large populations and high densities
with low levels of economic activity and low employment. Population growth in these
settlements is in contrast to expectations of population declines, due to urban migration.
A possible reason could be the high level of dependency on social grants in the former
homelands. The article analyses population growth rates, economic growth rates and
the ratio of social grant recipients within former homeland settlements between 1996
and 2011. By using weighted multiple regression tests, the article determines whether
the phenomenon of population growth, in the absence of significant economic activity,
is linked to welfare transfers. The results indicate that population growth is the product
of increases in age cohorts qualifying for social grants in rural areas, due to high birth
rates and pensioner in-migration from urban areas. By contrast, other age cohorts
show population declines.
Description
CITATION: Geyer, H., Ngidi, M. & Mans, G. 2018. Do social grants contribute to the jobless population growth in the former South African homelands?. Town and Regional Planning, 72:58-69, doi:10.18820/2415-0495/trp72i1.5.
The original publication is available at http://journals.ufs.ac.za
The original publication is available at http://journals.ufs.ac.za
Keywords
Unemployed -- Homelands (South Africa), Welfare recipients -- South Africa, Overpopulation -- South Africa, Rural poor -- South Africa, Rural population -- Employment -- South Africa
Citation
Geyer, H., Ngidi, M. & Mans, G. 2018. Do social grants contribute to the jobless population growth in the former South African homelands?. Town and Regional Planning, 72:58-69, doi:10.18820/2415-0495/trp72i1.5