Stress haunts grant recipients

Caregivers worried sick over struggle to survive

Every morning Nomusa*, 50, wakes up at the crack of dawn to bake vetkoek that she sells at the nearby taxi rank to supplement the child support grants she collects on behalf of her children.

She lives in an RDP house in Doornkop, Soweto, with her unemployed husband and their four children.

Whenever she comes back from the rank she is too tired to help her children with their homework.

“Things are very difficult for my family. The grant money is not enough because there is transport, groceries and electricity to take care of. It’s very stressful when I can’t provide for my kids, I wish the government can increase the support grant,” she said.

Her neighbour Noxolo*, 45, said from the R390 child support grant she gets she spends R250 to buy 10kg rice, 10kg flour, 5kg sugar and 5l cooking oil.

“With the rest of the money I buy chicken pieces and borrow for electricity. If only I can get a job then things will be much easier for my family and I will also be able to take my kids to the mall,” said Noxolo.

The two women’s stories formed part of a study by the University of Johannesburg which found that caregivers getting child support are at risk of depression.

The study examined the mental health status of the caregiver, its impact on child food security and perceptions of the child’s health.

Professor Leila Patel, who led the study, said the aim was to understand how family contexts shape the well-being of children on child support grants.

“The study reveals that grant monies are small, leading to food scarcity, no money for clothes, high levels of indebtedness, inadequate housing, a lack of basic furniture and household goods,” she said.

“One in two caregivers live in households where no one is employed.

“Despite the positive benefits of the child support grant in ensuring food security, four out of 10 children and adults experience hunger to some extent over a 12month period due to food shortages,” Patel said.

She added that 17% of children under five years were found to be moderately underdeveloped and 9% were severely stunted.

The study points to the importance of combining cash and care services for optimal child well-being.

*Not their real names

Four of 10 kids and adults on grants experience hunger