Social Development Minister Edna Molewa will tomorrow, 6 August 2009, launch findings of the study to review obstacles to accessing death benefits due to orphans from statutory insurance schemes and pension funds in South Africa. The event will take place in Pretoria.
The study, commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), reviewed the administration procedures of compulsory employment-based social insurance schemes including eight major pension funds that provide a benefit to orphans, and how effectively they reach their beneficiary.
Despite large scale social insurance schemes, new findings indicate that many South African children, especially orphans, are not able to access the benefits. The study indicates that children in foster care, who lack access to official information, orphans whose parents die out of service and those who lack official documentation, are limited in accessing entitlements. In many cases, indirect costs of claiming benefits, transport and administrative costs, and lack of information all serve to delay or prevent children and their families from accessing benefits.
The detailed results as well as recommendations to address the problem will be presented by Minister Molewa and of Social Development and Aida Girma, UNICEF Representative in South Africa.
Media are invited to attend.
Date: Thursday, 6 August 2009
Venue: Sheraton Hotel, Corner Wessels and Church streets
Time: 08h45
RSVPs:
Jaconia Kobue
Cell: 073 026 1111
Enquiries:
Zanele Mngadi
Cell: 082 330 1148
E-mail: zanelemn@mobileemail.vodafonesa.co.za
Issued by: Department of Social Development
5 August 2009
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
