Wilderness of Mirrors: A policy reassessment.

The persistent poverty in South Africa, despite significant social grantexpenditures, indicates a need for rethinking poverty alleviation strategies(Ndaguba and Hanyane, 2019). Social grants provide immediate financialrelief but often foster dependency, undermining long-term economic self-sufficiency (Devereux, 2002). This study examines the potential of the IgboApprenticeship Model (IAM) as an alternative approach. IAM, rooted in thecultural practices of the Igbo people of Nigeria, emphasizes skill acquisitionand entrepreneurship through mentorship and community support. Byshifting focus from the individual to a social and communal action, this studyargues that South Africa can reduce dependency, enhance economicproductivity, and achieve sustainable poverty reduction. Existing literaturesupports this perspective, illustrating that while social grants provideessential short-term relief, they fail to address the structural causes ofpoverty. Scholars like Devereux (2002) argue that social grants can sometimescreate dependency rather than fostering self-sufficiency. Similarly, Ferguson(2015) highlights that although social grants can alleviate immediate financialdistress, they do not contribute to long-term economic empowerment. Theprevailing belief that increased social grants can alleviate poverty overlooksthe need for sustainable, long-term solutions. Poverty, as Sen (1999)elucidates, is not merely a lack of income but a deprivation of capabilities, andaddressing it requires more than financial aid. Nussbaum (2000) corroborateswith this assertion in the study of wellbeing as a factor for understandingpoverty alleviation, nonetheless, Granlund & Hochfeld (2020) argues thatsocial grants give parents some sense of empowerment.