Your daily Selection of IRIN Africa PlusNews reports, 11/23/2006

November 23, 2006

U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) -

[These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

CONTENT:

1 - SOUTH AFRICA: New social grants plan cautiously welcomed

JOHANNESBURG, 23 November (PLUSNEWS) - South Africa's Department of Health

confirmed on Thursday that a new social grant system was on the cards for

chronically ill people, including those living with HIV/AIDS.

At present, government policy stipulates that HIV-positive grant recipients be

deregistered once antiretroviral (ARV) treatment restores them to good health

and they are able to start seeking work.

However, local AIDS activists charged that with national unemployment estimated

at around 35 percent, most beneficiaries were usually jobless and too ill to

work before they started receiving the monthly stipend of US$109, which was

often used to support their or their family's nutritional needs.

The AIDS Consortium, a coalition of South African NGOs working against the

pandemic, said it welcomed the latest development, but " the sooner this can be

implemented, the better ... it would also help eradicate the perverse incentive

[of some grant recipients] to stay ill, " Rhulani Lehloka, communications manager

for the AIDS Consortium, told IRIN/PlusNews. Widespread poverty is still one of

the main challenges facing South Africa.

" We advocate for a maximum of six months as a timeline for the government to

launch or start implementation of its new grants system, " Lehloka added.

Researchers at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies at Johannesburg's University

of the Witwatersrand found that 25 percent of the population relied on state

assistance, and many deliberately contracted diseases such as tuberculosis (TB),

or failed to take their medication so as to continue receiving government

support.

Doctor Yogan Pillay, chief director of strategic planning in the health

department, confirmed that a government task team was looking at ways of

supporting all potentially eligible recipients. " It is not just HIV-positive

people, but numerous others with short-term disabilities who fall into the same

temporary grant bracket, which pays out for between six to 12 months. When it

[the new system] comes into effect, it would hopefully help alleviate the

financial and nutritional burden of these people. "

According to Pillay, 1.5 million people are accessing temporary and permanent

social disability grants in South Africa, at an annual cost of around US$140

million.

The task team, which is made up of various government departments, including

Agriculture, Labour and the National Treasury, is expected to consult with civil

society organisations before submitting a proposal of their recommendations to

the Cabinet for consideration.

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November 23, 2006