Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable - Unicef

Government-funded programmes and services for vulnerable children in SA
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of the deceased
contributor may
only apply if there
is no surviving
spouse, or if the
surviving spouse has
not applied for the
benefits within six
months of the death
of the contributor.
be made within six
months of the death
of the spouse or
partner.
Notes:
(i) NCLPA, Annexure A, p81
(ii) Regulations on hazardous work by children in South Africa, Government Gazette 32862, 15 January 2010
(iii) Unemployment Insurance Fund Act 63/2001 as amended by the Unemployment Insurance Amendment Act 32/2003
(iv) Black Sash (2010c)
(v) Black Sash (2010c)
Some key policy and service delivery gaps
Child labour policies
Almost no data are available on the prevalence of child labour in South Africa. The DoL
estimates that 1 million children between the ages of 5–17 are engaged in child labour
(Presidency 2009: xiii). The practice of child labour is common in vulnerable households
affected by poverty, HIV/AIDS and households living in rural areas. Families living in
poverty require their children to work, either to supplement the family income or to engage
in domestic chores like caring for younger siblings or ill adults. Many children living in
poverty in rural areas are additionally required to fetch wood and water and herd cattle.
Many children in South Africa, whether employed for economic gain or doing domestic
chores, do so at the expense of their education. Child labour can keep children away from
their homework and renders them too tired to attend school punctually and regularly. In
addition, it is a cause of children dropping out of school.
A participant in an ACESS (2003: 45) child participation process described his experience
as follows:
My problem is I do not even have a chance to read my books. After school I
go to work. When I come back from work I already feel like sleeping and I just
sleep because I am tired. I wake up late. I am always late here at school. I’ve
never been early. Another problem is that I am always tired, I am always tired.
(Boy, 12, E Cape)
The Institute for Democracy in South Africa has found that many children living in poverty
are compelled to sacrifice their education and drop out of school to go and work to help
ensure their families’ survival. About half the children interviewed in a research project
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