Children in South Africa bear a huge burden of poverty because they are disproportionately represented in households situated in poor areas where there is little employment. Children have a constitutional right to social assistance, and over 9 million children receive social grants. Without these grants, child poverty rates would be even more severe.

Number and proportion of children living in income poverty

South Africa has very high rates of child poverty, and children are disproportionately represented in poor households. In 2010, six out of ten children lived on less than R575 per month.

The number and proportion of children living in households where no adult is employed

In 2008, a third of all children lived in households where no adults were working. This includes formal employment as well as income generation through informal and self-employment.

The number of children receiving the Child Support Grant

The child support grant is an unconditional cash grant paid to the caregivers of eligible children. It is the biggest of all grants in distribution numbers, and now reaches over 10 million children each month.

The number of foster child grants disbursed for children in foster care

The Foster Child Grant is available to foster parents who have a child placed in their care by an order of the court. It is a non-contributory cash grant to the value of R680 per child per month as of 1 April 2009.

The number of children receiving the Care Dependency Grant

The Care Dependency Grant is a non-contributory monthly cash transfer to caregivers of children with severe disabilities who require permanent care. It is worth R1010 per month in 2009.