The Child Support Grant (CSG) came about as a strategy to address child
poverty in South Africa, granted to caregivers that care for children up to the
age of eighteen years. In 2012, the number of children aged up to 18 years
receiving the CSG stood at 11 306 024, an increase from 800 476 in 2001.
Despite amending the Social Assistance Act, 2004 (Act 13 of 2004), and
numerous marketing campaigns conducted by the South African Social
Security Agency (SASSA) since 2009 in the Northern Cape Region, SASSA
struggles to meet the annual projected targets for CSG intakes.
An empirical study to investigate the reasons that deter primary caregivers
from applying for child support was conducted in the Northern Cape. In this
study, it was hypothesised that amending the criteria for CSG will increase
the number of qualifying primary caregivers applying for the CSG, and assist
the Frances Baard District Municipality in achieving the annual projected
targets.