Volume: Volume 4(1) - 2000

Article type: Editorial

In this edition of Law, Democracy and Development salient areas of social security in South Africa are discussed. Certain overarching themes, which have a bearing on all the branches of social security, are dealt with separately - the conceptual framework, scope of application, constitutional issues, judicial protection and enforcement, and international and comparative standards.

Particular risk categories are discussed individually. These include disability, family support and maternity protection, and unemployment coverage. The discussion deals with general characteristics of the various themes, commenting on some of the problems, and referring to some international and comparative precedents. The approach is neither purely legal, nor comprehensive. The inter- and multi-disciplinary nature of social security necessitates some reflection on non-legal principles and the integration of these into the legal framework.

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