SINCE the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of 1996), provides that everyone has the right to have access to social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance, and obliges the state to take reasonable legislative and other measures, within its available resources, to achieve the progressive realisation of each of these rights;

AND SINCE the effective provision of social assistance requires uniform norms and standards, standardised delivery mechanisms and a national policy for the efficient, economic and effective use of the limited resources available for social assistance and for the promotion of equal access to government services;

THEREFORE in order to prevent the proliferation of laws, policies and approaches to the execution thereof from materially prejudicing the beneficiaries or recipients of social assistance as well as the economic interests of provinces or the Republic as a whole or from impeding the implementation of a national social assistance economic policy;

AND in order to assist in securing the well-being of the people of the Republic and to provide effective, transparent, accountable and coherent government in respect of social assistance for the Republic as a whole,

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—