Social change through integrated social and economic development in South Africa: a social welfare perspective

Abstract

Thirteen years into democracy, South Africa is still facing deep-seated social and economic inequalities. The country's macro-economic policy fosters economic growth, which is essential for socio-economic development, but at the same time it also highlights the challenges required for development, which will benefit the majority of the population in South Africa. In line with a neo-liberal capitalist macro-economic policy, in which the role of the state is scaled down, the Government's Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative calls on social partners to achieve social change through integrated social and economic development. Social work, as one of the partners in social change, is well positioned to take up its role as facilitator of social reform in the new democracy. The relationship between developmental social welfare services, social security and The Expanded Public Works Programme will be explored within the context of an integrated social–economic development plan for reducing actual poverty on th...