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12UUJWHENLISTENINGTOradiotalkshowsconversationsatmeetingsinschoolclassroomsandcommunitiesweoencomeacrossnegativediscoursesabouthowsocialgrantsosterdependencyonthestateencourageteenagepregnancyandpromoteacultureopassivecitizenrywaitingonstatehand-outs.TiswasProLeilaPatelsassessmentopublicdiscoursesaboutsocialgrantrecipientspresentedduringtheHelenJosephmemoriallecturethisyear.PatelDirectorotheCentreorSocialDevelopmentinAricaCSDAwhodeliveredthekeynoteaddressothelectureonKingswayCampussaysthatthereislittleevidencetosupportthesebelies.Patelstatedthatalackoknowledgeonsexandreproductivehealthgenderinequalitysexualviolenceandthelackoadequaterolemodelsorboyswereamongsttheproblemsdrivingteenagepregnancies.Terewasalsolimitedevidencetosuggestthatgrantscontributedtobenefciariesbeingwork-shy.Shesaidthatthegrantsystemwasintendedtotargetprimarilythosepeoplewhowerenotabletoworkandwhoarenoteconomicallyactive.AccordingtothefndingsoPatelandothercolleaguesattheCSDAandtheUniversitythemajorityoChildSupportGrantsCSGsbenefciariesdonotwishtobedependentandcontinuetoplaceahighvalueonpaidemployment.AstudybytheCSDAinReportsDoornkopSowetoandRiverleashowsthat42ograntbenefciariesinRiverleawhowereunemployedwereactivelylookingorworkandjustoverahalweredoingsoinDoornkop.ContrarytotheperceptionsthatgrantrecipientsroutinelymisusedthegrantmoneyProPatelsaidthatawiderangeostudiesonhowgrantmoniesarespentallconvergearoundonepointbenefciariesspendthemoneyonood.InaddressingfscalissuesandsustainabilityProPatelsaidthattoramesocialinvestmentsingrantsaspurelywasteulconsumptionexpenditureisincorrect.Tereissignifcantevidencetoshowthatsocialinvestmentsarecriticaltoeconomicgrowthsheexplained.Grantsactuallymakeadierence.Firstlythereisnowcompellingevidencethatthesocialgrantssystemreducespovertyirrespectiveowhichpovertylinesareused.Headcountpovertywasreducedrom0.6in1993to0.54in2008.Tegrantssystemensuresaminimumstandardolivingorolderpersonsandpeoplewithdisabilities.PensionsalsoenableolderpeopletoremainintheiramiliesandcommunitiesandimprovedtheirliesatisactionProPatelemphasised.ProPatelsaidthatgrantsdidnotcreateproblemsinsociety.Insteadtheyplayedanimportantroleinalleviatingpovertyandinequality.THEREISNOWCOMPELLINGEVIDENCETHATTHESOCIALGRANTSSYSTEMREDUCESPOVERTYIRRESPECTIVEOFWHICHPOVERTYLINESAREUSEDUJostersHelenJosephslegacyatannualpubliclectureDosocialgrantscreatemoreproblemsthantheysolveABOVEILLUSTRATIONVECTORSTOCKBELOWProfLeilaPatelPHOTOJANPOTGIETER