Social Welfare Policy in South Africa: From the Poor White Problem to a “Digitised Social Contract”

Social Welfare Policy in South Africa examines the South African government’s response to social welfare challenges during and after apartheid. The book analyses social welfare policy reforms in South Africa from the social contract perspective. Through a critical analysis of the major social policy shifts in the country, the book illustrates that the provision of social welfare services is the most concrete way of fulfilling the terms of the social contract, especially in democratic South Africa. The book offers a useful approach to understanding the changes in the social welfare philosophy and practice that occurred when the country transitioned from minority to majority rule during the 1990s. By tracing the development of social welfare policy interventions over time, Social Welfare Policy in South Africa draws attention to the broader political, historical, social, and economic factors that have influenced social welfare policy in the country.