Social security is an important instrument of government to reduce the risks of economic
insecurity to indivi~uals and the community. Social security usually consists of social insurance
(for example pensions, unemployment insurance and workmen's compensation) and social
assistance (for example social pensions, disability grants and maintenance grants). In view of
South Africa's low economic growth, high and rising unemployment, widespread poverty, skew
distribution of income and the disintegration of the family, social security requires urgent
attention. This issue is even more pressing during the political transition since most policy
measures and institutions are reconsidered, while pressure on government expenditure increases.
This study commences with a discussion of basic aspects of social security, such as its definition,
the rationale for social security in a market economy, the possible influence on economic
behaviour, targeting, the financing of social security through a payroll tax and general taxation
and the financing of a national pension fund.
One of the sources of information of social security is the experience of other countries in this
regard. The second part, which constitutes the core of the study, involves a comparative study of
social security. After a general discussion on comparative studies, the origin and development of
social security in welfare states (the USA, Britain and the Netherlands) and developing countries
(Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba and Sri Lanka) are studied. African countries and the
"miracle" countries of the East also receive brief attention. The main emphasis is on equity and
efficiency, and aspects such as affordability, financing, targeting, the extension of coverage, a
negative income tax, traditional social security and specific programmes that could be of
importance to South Africa.
In the last section the origin and development of and the fiscal scope for social security are
discussed. Besides social insurance and assistance, programmes such as in-kind transfers, public
works programmes and tax expenditure receive attention. Aspects of social security such as
poverty alleviation, means testing, take-up rates, administration and corruption are discussed,
while recommendations are made on topics such as a "voluntarily" national pension scheme,
employment creation programmes and food stamps.
Bestaansbeveiliging is 'n belangrike instrument in die hande van die owerheid om die risiko' s van
ekonomiese onsekerheid vir individue en die gemeenskap te verminder. Bestaansbeveiliging
bestaan gewoonlik uit maatskaplike versekering (waaronder pensioene, werkloosheidsversekering
en ongevalleversekering) en maatskaplike bystand (byvoorbeeld maatskaplike pensioene,
ongeskiktheidstoelaes en onderhoudstoelaes). In die lig van Suid-Afrika se lae ekonomiese groei,
hoe en stygende werkloosheid, wydverspreide armoede, skewe verdeling van inkome en
gesinsverbrokkeling, verg bestaansbeveiliging dringende aandag. Die aangeleentheid is des te
dringender gedurende die politieke oorgangsperiode waartydens die meeste beleidsmaatreels en
instellings in heroorweging geneem word en daar voortdurend druk op die owerheid is om meer
van die land se skaars bronne te gebruik.
Ter inleiding word enkele kemaspekte van bestaansbeveiliging bespreek, waaronder die definisie
daarvan, die rasionaal vir bestaansbeveiliging in 'n markekonomie, die moontlike invloed van
bestaansbeveiliging op ekonomiese gedrag, die rol van teikenstelling, die finansiering van
bestaansbeveiliging deur middel van 'n loonstaatbelasting en algemene belastings en die
finansiering van 'n nasionale pensioenfonds.
Een bron van inligting oar bestaansbeveiliging is die ervaring van ander lande op hierdie terrein.
Die tweede gedeelte, wat die kern van die studie is, behels 'n vergelykende studie van
bestaansbeveiliging. Na 'n inleidende bespreking oar vergelykende studies in die algemeen, word
die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van bestaansbeveiliging in welvaartstate (die VSA, Brittanje en
Nederland) en in ontwikkelende lande (Chili, Mexiko, Guatemala, Kuba en Sri Lanka) bestudeer.
Afrikalande en die "mirakel-lande" van die Coste kry oorsigtelik aandag. Die nadruk in die
gedeelte val veral op billikheid en doeltreffendheid en aspekte soos bekostigbaarheid,
finansiering, teikenstelling, uitbreiding van dekking, negatiewe inkomstebelasting, tradisionele
bestaansbeveiliging en programme wat vir Suid-Afrika van betekenis kan wees.
In die laaste gedeelte word die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van en die fiskale ruimte vir
bestaansbeveiliging in Suid-Afrika bespreek. Benewens maatskaplike versekering en bystand, kry
programme soos in natura oordragte, openbare werke-programme (werkskeppingsprogramme) en
belastinguitgawes aandag. Aspekte van bestaansbeveiliging soos armoedeverligting, die
middeletoets, opneemkoerse, administrasie en korrupsie word bespreek en aanbevelings word
onder me er gemaak ten opsigte van 'n "vrywillige" nasionale pensioenskema,
werkskeppingsprogramme en voedselkoepons.
