No abstract available. / Thesis (MPA)-University of Durban-Westville, 1988.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Pension funds are large institutional investors in South Africa and hold some of the highest levels of investment, relative to gross domestic product, in the world. The South African stock market is also the largest stock market in Africa. Research has shown that pension funds can play an important role in developing stock markets. This assignment investigated the impact that pension fund investment has had on the development of the South African stock market. This question is particularly relevant in the light of the changing domestic pension policy environment and the need to better develop stock markets in Southern Africa and globally to generate economic growth. The Johansen cointegration approach was applied to evaluate the impact of pension funds on the development of the South African stock market. Stock market development was measured by its depth or market capitalisation, liquidity and volatility. The analysis shows that South African pension funds have improved the liquidity and reduced the volatility of the stock market. Pension fund investment in shares increased market capitalisation, while market capitalisation was reduced when the prime lending rate was included as a control variable. Total pension fund investment decreased market capitalisation, probably through the impact of interest rates on interest-bearing assets held in the portfolio.

In the Republic of South Africa (and in South West Africa) social pensions are non-contributory and are paid out of state revenue, the funds for the purpose being voted annually by Parliament. With minor exceptions, the pensions are granted subject to a means test: that is, income levels are laid down which fix the maximum allowable income including pension. If the total income exceeds this amount an applicant will not be awarded a pension. When these totals are being calculated a certain sum is permitted, called ‘free income’, which does not affect the amount of pension that may be granted. (This ‘free income’ might be made up of earnings, or interest from investments, or profits from agriculture, etc.)These different figures vary according to the kinds of pension and to the population group. They are revised from time to time. Changes are announced by the Minister of Finance in his budget speech to Parliament and usually become effective some months later when details have been worked out by the departments dealing with the respective population groups. Because the conditions under which pensions are granted are fairly frequently changed, and improved, an application which was not successful one year may well succeed a year or two later. Therefore any applicant whose circumstances may have changed, or who believes that new rules may help his case, is advised to apply again. / Revised Edition

Thesis (MTech (Human Resource Management))--Cape Technikon, 1999. / Although retirement planning is well known in most South African organizations it is an aspect that enjoys a low priority in the majority of organisations resulting in weak and insufficient retirement planning. The aforementioned together with a lack of sufficient retirement planning preparation within local authorities often leads to the formation of an incorrect perception when individuals retire. Aspects affecting retirement planning include the continued high inflation rate, affirmative action, political and economic uncertainty, the population explosion, unemployment and rationalization. It is therefore imperative that officials receive the necessary training and leadership for the expected success of retirement. An important shortcoming exists in this unique field to school and prepare officials and the importance of establishing an independent future after an active career becomes essential. The focus point for this investigation was to determine to what degree retirement planning is operational in local authorities. Secondly, the degree to which available information in connection with retirement planning is used to prepare officials effectively for the process was determined. Subsequently problems experienced with the application and implementation of a retirement plan for officials as well as obstacles that could hinder the process of successful timeous retirement planning was also looked at.

Retirement has different meanings for different people. Retirement represents a significant transitional period in the life cycle of an individual. The aim of the study was to explore and describe the experiences and coping resources of retirees. The researcher applied an exploratory, descriptive research design employing the mixed methods of quantitative and qualitative research to gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomenon. A non-probability purposive sampling method was used to identify participants who retired from a specific vehicle manufacturing company in Port Elizabeth. Semi-structured interviewing techniques and a questionnaire called the Coping Resources Inventory were used for data collection. The rationale for using a mixed method approach was to increase the validity of the research findings. Descriptive statistics and the framework provided by Tesch (in Creswell, 2003) were used in data analysis of quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The results of the Coping Resources Inventory indicated that the participants perceived themselves as having an average level of coping resources. The results from the semi-structured interviews reflected that participants’ retirement experiences are mainly influenced by the following three factors: (a) economic resources, (b) social relationships and (c) personal resources. Recommendations were made for future research and intervention regarding retirement planning. The researcher included suggestions for the implementation of a retirement preparation programme. Lastly the limitations and the value of the study were outlined.

Social assistance in the form of cash grants is a large and fiscally costly component of anti-poverty policy in South Africa. A critical question arises: Are the grants effective tools for reducing poverty in South Africa and, moreover, how significant is their impact on poverty? As a measure of reducing poverty, the government has expanded the social grants system since the advent of the new democracy in 1994. The country's social grant system is quite comprehensive and it is intended to cover vulnerable individuals over their life course from childhood to adulthood and into old age. Policy discourse surrounding the grants centres on the sustainability of the system and its implications for socio-economic development and poverty alleviation. It is therefore important that the significance of grants is identified and assessed particularly in relation to very poor households. This dissertation focuses specifically on one particular grant, namely, the old age pension. It does so in the context of the sustainable livelihoods conceptual framework and the history of the social grant system in South Africa. Statistical data collected by the South African government as well as more localised evidence gathered in the Eastern Cape town of Grahamstown is used to ascertain the significance of old age pensions for poverty reduction. While there is some evidence to suggest that pensions contribute to poverty reduction, this does not translate into poverty alleviation. In fact, there is some unevenness in the impact of pensions on poverty. In this regard, the decision-making structures in poor households regularly influence the way pension money is allocated and used within households. Grant money is normally shared in extended households, such that the pension does not simply benefit the recipient but the recipient's household as a whole. Although there is cause for concern regarding the propensity of social grants to affect people's behaviour negatively, there is a case to be made for retaining grants as an important, though not the only, form of anti-poverty strategy. This highlights the need for continued research on the social grant system and pensions more specifically.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study traces the development of the welfare state in Mauritius and South Africa from the early 1900s until the present, with specific reference made to the non-contributory old-age pension scheme. It seeks to understand the intersections between big capital, the state and broad-based social forces in heralding different welfare outcomes in the two countries. Mauritius has retained its long-standing traditions as a social democratic welfare state stretching back to the late 1950s. In contrast, the current welfare model of South Africa continues to be the embodiment of the liberal welfare state, similar to that of the ancien regime set up in 1928, even though it has maintained a generous social grants system since the advent of democracy in 1994. As a result it is important to unravel patterns of historical evolution that are responsible for different welfare outcomes in seemingly identical socio-political contexts. Similarly, it is important to scratch below the surface of these historical patterns of evolution to account for these disparate welfare frameworks which, nonetheless, exhibit identical outcomes in the social security sector in terms of their unfaltering commitment to old-age pensions. To this end the dissertation employs the comparative historical analysis approach in a bid to draw cross-national parallels between the social processes that unfolded and consequently underpinned development paradigms over time. This study suggests that accounting for the divergent policy outcomes is the disproportionate powers being wielded by neoliberal market forces within the main arteries of the South African economy, which hindered the state from defining the policy direction of its welfare framework to dovetail with expansive social reforms. This restraint was compounded by the left as a 'labour aristocracy', whose alliance with the political ruling class compromised their ability to champion the pro-poor agenda with as much vigour as they would have if they had pursued an independent course. This is a far cry from the welfare trajectory of Mauritius, in which a mutual understanding between the state, cross-class movements and capitalist market forces bridged contesting class interests by reconciling market economics with social fundamentals. Unlike in South Africa, the independence of the working classes in Mauritius – whose mobilising traditions cut across the class spectrum – has added special impetus to the social reform movement, having served as the bulwark against welfare retrenchments and/or less egalitarian reforms in the past. That the universal pension scheme and the state’s commitment to the pro-poor cause remain intact in Mauritius is a result of these pro-active class contestations. On the other hand, the absence of the balance of power struck between social actors and the economic élite in South Africa propelled a class compromise that allowed for the dominance of pensions to come at the cost of extensive social reforms. Such outcomes would not have come into effect in South Africa had the playing field for all relevant stakeholders been level, as in Mauritius. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie volg die ontwikkeling van die welsynstaat in Mauritius en in Suid-Afrika vanaf die vroeë 1900’s tot op hede, met spesifieke verwysing na die nie-bydraende ouderdomspensioenskema. Dit poog om die snypunte tussen groot kapitaal, die staat en breë-basis maatskaplike kragte wat gelei het tot verskillende welsynuitkomstes in die twee lande te begryp. Mauritius het sy langdurige tradisie as ’n sosiale demokratiese welsynstaat, wat sedert die 1950’s bestaan, behou. In kontras gaan die huidige welsynmodel in Suid-Afrika voort as die beliggaming van die liberale welsynstaat, soortgelyk aan die ancien regime wat in 1928 ingestel is, selfs al het dit ’n vrygewige stelsel van maatskaplike toelae sedert die vestiging van demokrasie in 1994 onderhou. As gevolg hiervan is dit belangrik om die patrone van historiese evolusie te ontsyfer wat verantwoordelik is vir verskillende welsynuitkomstes in blykbaar identiese sosiaal-politiese kontekste. Eweneens is dit belangrik om onder die oppervlak van hierdie historiese patrone van evolusie te krap om hierdie uiteenlopende welsynraamwerke te verklaar wat nietemin identiese uitkomstes in die maatskaplike sekuriteitsektor vertoon in terme van hulle onwrikbare verbondenheid tot ouderdomspensioene. Ten einde dit te bereik gebruik hierdie proefskrif die benadering van vergelykende historiese analise in ’n poging om dwarsliggende nasionale ooreenstemmings te vind tussen die maatskaplike prosesse wat gelei het tot die skep van ontwikkelingsparadigmas oor tyd en hulle gevolglik onderskraag het. Hierdie studie stel voor dat die verklaring vir die uiteenlopende beleidsuitkomstes berus in die ongelyke magte wat binne die belangrikste kanale van die Suid-Afrikaanse ekonomie deur neoliberale markkragte beheer word, wat die staat daarvan weerhou het om ’n beleidsrigting vir sy welsynraamwerk te definieer wat by die breedvoerige maatskaplike hervormings pas. Hierdie remming word vererger deur die linkersy as ’n ‘arbeidsadelstand’, wie se alliansie met die politieke regerende klas hulle vermoë gekompromitteer het om die pro-arm agenda met soveel lewenskrag voor te staan as wat dit moontlik sou gewees het as hulle ’n onafhanklike koers ingeslaan het. Hierdie verskil hemelsbreed van die welsyntrajek in Mauritius, waar ’n wedersydse begrip tussen die staat, bewegings wat klas oorskry, en kapitalistiese markkragte kompeterende klasbelange oorbrug het deur die markekonomie met maatskaplike grondbeginsels te rekonsilieer. Anders as in Suid-Afrika het die onafhanklikheid van die werkersklas in Mauritius – wat se mobiliserende tradisies oor die klasspektrum heen sny – besondere impetus gevoeg by die maatskaplike hervormingsbeweging, aangesien dit gedien het as verskansing teen welsyninkortings en/of minder gelykmakende hervormings in die verlede. Dat die universele pensioenskema en die staat se verbondenheid tot die pro-arm saak in Mauritius onaangetas bly, is as gevolg van hierdie proaktiewe klasstryd. Andersins het die afwesigheid van ’n magsbalans tussen maatskaplike akteurs en die ekonomiese elite in Suid-Afrika gelei tot ’n klaskompromis, wat toegelaat het dat die oorheersing van pensioene gekom het ten koste van breedvoerige maatskaplike hervormings. Sulke uitkomstes sou nie in Suid-Afrika ingetree het nie as die speelveld vir al die relevante belanghebbers gelyk was, soos in Mauritius.

M. Tech. Business Information Systems / The South African government provides grants for social assistance as an income. The Social Grant is paid by South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) using the Smartcard System for distribution of funds to beneficiaries who are classified as: Old Age Grant; Child Grant; War Veteran Grant; Foster Care Grant; Disability Grant; Care Dependency Grant; and Grant-in-Aid. Smartcard System was implemented for the developed countries and developing countries, however, in South Africa, the implementation appears to have some deficiencies. The implementation in the rural areas is not the same as the one in the urban areas due to technical infrastructure and training. The main objective of this study is to determine factors that contribute to successful implementation of Smartcard System and to develop an appropriate framework for the implementation of the Smartcard System in rural South Africa. aim of this research.

Thesis (MPA (Public Management and Planning))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African (SA) government is experiencing problems with regard to its service delivery mandate in public institutions. These problems have resulted from a number of factors, such as SA’s history of unequal distribution of resources; the introduction of remedial legislations and programmes when the new government took office in 1994; incorrect implementation of these legislations and programmes with the accompanying departure of skilled managers accompanied by the influx of new and inexperienced managers. Deliberate interventions were introduced to address this service delivery problem however, many public institutions remain unsuccessful in fulfilling their mandate to service delivery. In this study, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is used as a case study to learn more about the effect of corporate governance in addressing service delivery problems in public institutions. As a government entity, the GEPF experienced some service delivery problems with regard to its mandate. Like any other public entity in SA, the GEPF is governed by all legislative provisions governing public entities and is equally affected by challenges such as scarcity of resources (financial; equipment and skills). The objectives of the study is to identify major principles and techniques related to corporatisation as an approach to management practice; to identify major challenges encountered by GEPF prior to corporatisation; and to analyse the deployment of corporate arrangements in the conduct of the GEPF in relation to these techniques and principles. The basis of this research is a thorough literature study and interviews with managers of the GEPF. The major finding of this study is that the GEPF has entrusted basic duties and responsibilities affecting its mandate to employer institutions (EIs). These basic yet sensitive functions have been left arbitrarily to EIs, hence the GEPF is unable to execute its duties in its benefits administration in line with its vision. Other findings include internal processes are incorrectly applied, thus hampering effective and efficient benefits administration; there is lack of, or limited use of a performance management system; there is an inability to deal with predictable problems; and the organisation of resources does not support the vision of the GEPF. Achievements in terms of the corporatisation process to improve performance were noted. The enrolment of the services of consultants to assist the GEPF to improve its performance led to the following: approval of the organisational structure that supports the GEPF’s vision; empowerment of managers in terms of skills capacity; conversion of contract workers to permanent; and taking an aggressive approach to performance and risk management. It is therefore concluded that although challenges still exist, the GEPF has embarked on a systematic process to rid itself of the challenges it faces. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Suid-Afrikaanse Owerheidsektor ervaar tans probleme ten opsigte van sy diensleweringsmandaat. Die probleme met swak dienslewering kan toegeskryf word aan faktore soos Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis van wat betref die onbillike verdeling van hulpbronne, die daarstel van ʼn nuwe regering in 1994 wat gelei het tot regstellende wetgewing en programme, die onoordeelkundige implementering van hierdie nuwe wetgewing en programme, en die gepaardgaande verlies van bekwame bestuurders en die aanstelling van nuwe en onervare bestuurders. Ten spyte van doelbewuste ingrypings om die diensleweringprobleem aan te spreek, bly owerheidsinstellings steeds in gebreke om aan hul diensleweringsmandaat te voldoen. Die Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) is as ʼn gevallestudie gebruik om die effek van korporatiewe bestuur op die hantering van diensleweringsprobleme in owerheidsinstellings te bepaal. Die GEPF as ʼn owerheidsinstelling ervaar ook probleme wat sy mandaat van dienslewering betref. In vergelyking met ander owerheidsinstellings ervaar die GEPF soortgelyke uitdagings ten opsigte van hulpbronverdeling (op finansiële vlak, en wat toerusting en vaardighede betref). Die doelwit van die studie is om die hoofbeginsels en -tegnieke verbonde aan korporatisering as ʼn bestuursbeleid te identifiseer, om die hoofuitdagings vir die GEPF voor intervensie op ʼn objektiewe en onbetrokke wyse te identifiseer, en om die tegnieke en beginsels aangewend sedert die implementering van die intervensie te analiseer. Hierdie studie is op ʼn deeglike literatuurstudie en die voer van onderhoude met bestuurslede van die GEPF geskoei. Die vernaamste bevinding van die studie is dat die GEPF sy basiese verpligtinge en verantwoordelikhede rakende sy mandaat aan die werkgewersinstellings toevertrou. Die basiese, dog sensitiewe funksies wat arbitrêr aan die werkgewer oorgelaat word, kniehalter die GEPF om sy administratiewe pligte volgens sy visie uit te voer. Ander bevindings sluit in dat interne prosesse op ʼn ondoeltreffende manier toegepas word, wat dan doeltreffende administrasie kortwiek. Dit sluit in die gebrek of beperkte gebruik van ʼn prestasiebestuurstelsel, die onbevoegdheid om ooglopende probleme te identifiseer en beperkte hulpbronne, wat nie die visie ondersteun nie. Die aanwending van korporatiewe prosesse om dienslewering te verbeter blyk suksesvol te wees. Die aanstelling van konsultante om behulpsaam te wees met dienslewering het gelei tot die goedkeuring van ʼn organisatoriese struktuur wat die visie van die GEPF ondersteun, die bemagtiging van bestuurders omdat hul vaardigheid verbeter is, die aanstelling van kontrakwerkers in permanente poste en ʼn aggressiewe benadering tot prestasie- en risikobestuur. Die gevolgtrekking is dat alhoewel daar nog uitdagings bestaan, die GEPF ʼn sistematiese proses onderneem het om die uitdagings te oorkom.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis focuses on the extent to which the South African social security system succeeds in providing protection in the vulnerable periods of the life-cycle and against the major contingencies of unemployment, disability and disease. Through a detailed examination of the different social insurance and assistance programmes, it isolates which particular population segments (by occupation, income quintile and race group) "fall through the cracks" in the provision of income security. It does not look only at the articulation between different social insurance and social assistance programmes, but also acknowledges how social security complements other governmental interventions, such as social services, and non-state sources of income security, such as those provided by the private insurance market and the family and community. Part One of the thesis is devoted to an examination of social insurance in South Africa, in other words, to those programmes that seek to compensate for a loss of income in the event of particular contingencies and that are funded by contributions from employers and employees. In addition, theoretical perspectives on social security, and social insurance in particular, are provided, with a discussion of the various economic arguments in favour of and against the provision of social security. Part Two of the thesis examines the range of non-contributory social assistance - cash benefits paid form general revenue - that are available to South Africans who qualify in terms of the means tests. Each chapter provides an analysis of the extent to which the social assistance programme under analysis provides a safety net for the relevant category of vulnerable people. It does this by examining the appropriateness of the programme structure, take-up rates and the fiscal sustainability of the programmes. In addition, the budgetary process by which revenue is allocated to social assistance programmes and expenditure trends are examined. The thesis concludes that although the South African social security system has achieved a fairly advanced level of development and covers a fairly wide range of risks, there are a number of constraints facing its further expansion. Social insurance schemes provide generous benefits, but their membership is restricted to the employed. Expanding coverage by social insurance would require substantial growth in remunerative employment which, given prevailing labour market conditions, seems unlikely. The provision of more generous social assistance programmes catering for a broader range of contingencies is severely curtailed by already high fiscal expenditure on welfare and macroeconomic constraints. Moreover, changing demography, household structures and dependency burdens, especially as the HIV/AIDS epidemic spreads, seem likely to increase demands on social assistance programmes. Consequently, until employment can be expanded so that more people can contribute to their own income security, the informal social security provided by the family and/or community will remain the first line of support for many. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie tesis word gefokus op die mate waartoe die Suid-Afrikaanse bestaansbeveiligingstelsel daarin slaag om ondersteuning tydens kwesbare periodes in die lewensiklus en beskerming teen groot gebeurlikhede soos werkloosheid, ongeskiktheid of langdurige siekte te bied. Daardie bevolkingsegmente (volgens beroep, inkomstegroep of ras) wat nie volledig toegang tot inkomstesekuriteit het nie, word uitgesonder deur 'n gedetaileerde ondersoek van die verskillende maatskaplike versekerings- en bystandsprogramme. Daar word ook gekyk na die artikulasie tussen die verskillende programme sowel as na hoe ander regeringsintervensies (bv. verskaffing van maatskaplike dienste) en private bronne van inkomstesekuriteit - verskaf deur die privaat versekeringsmark, die gemeenskap en die familie - deur maatskaplike bystand aangevul word. Deel Een word gewyaan 'n ondersoek van maatskaplike versekering in Suid-Afrika - daardie programme wat vir inkomsteverlies weens spesifieke gebeurlikhede probeer kompenseer en wat tipies deur bydraes van werkgewers en werknemers befonds word. Teoretiese perspektiewe op bestaansbeveiliging in die algemeen en maatskaplike versekering in besonder word ook verskaf en argumente vir en teen die verskaffing van bestaansbeveiliging word bespreek. Deel Twee ondersoek die reeks nie-bydraende bestaansbeveiligingsprogramme wat uit algemene owerheidsinkomste befonds word, asook bestedingstendense in maatskaplike bystand. Die tesis kom tot die gevolgtrekking dat, alhoewel Suid-Afrikaanse bestaansbeveiliging 'n redelik gevorderde vlak van ontwikkeling bereik het en 'n wye reeks risiko's dek, daar 'n aantal beperkinge op verdere uitbreiding is. Maatskaplike versekeringskemas bied uitgebreide voordele, maar lidmaatskap is tot indiensgeneemdes beperk. Uitbreiding van dekking vereis beduidende groei in formele indiensneming, wat onwaarskynlik lyk, gegewe huidige arbeidsmarktendense. Die verskaffing van gunstiger maatskaplike bystandsprogramme gemik op meer gebeurlikhede word ernstig deur reeds hoë fiskale uitgawes op welsyn en deur makroekonomiese oorweginge beperk. Verder sal veranderende demografiese strukture, huishoudingstrukture en afhanklikheidslaste, veral teen die agtergrond van die toename in HIVNIGS, aansprake op maatskaplike bystandsprogramme vergroot. Gevolglik sal die informele inkomstesekuriteit gebied deur die familie en/of gemeenskap die eerste of enigste ondersteuning vir groot dele van die bevolking bly, totdat indiensneming genoeg uitgebrei kan word sodat meer mense tot hul eie inkomstesekuriteit kan bydra.