Tying social grants to job creation schemes would strengthen South Africa’s safety net while opening a pathway from dependency to work and dignity for millions.

South Africa’s social grant system is one of the country’s most significant achievements, lifting millions out of extreme poverty and cushioning families against hardship. Yet with persistently high unemployment and weak economic growth, there is a pressing need to rethink how grants can do more to support opportunity and inclusion. An answer may lie in linking income support via government to job creation schemes, thereby giving grant recipients a bridge into the world of work.

Around the world, countries that connect cash transfers to work experience, training, or community service find that beneficiaries gain not just short-term relief, but the skills and habits needed for upward mobility. In South Africa, this approach could mean expanding public works programmes, incentivising private employers to take on grant recipients, and supporting local projects that create meaningful work.

The logic is clear. Grants that reward participation and build skills are more likely to foster independence. With South African 33.5% unemployment rate, integrating job creation into social support may offer a surprisingly effective avenue to improve social and economic conditions.

Seen through the lens of social policy, connecting grants to job creation offers a way to align short-term protection with long-term progress. By making the safety net a springboard, South Africa could strengthen both its economy and its social fabric.