Reflections on the concept of informal social security and communal lifestyle in South Africa

Abstract

This article investigates how the notion of informal social security and communal lifestyle has played a significant role in sustaining the livelihood of indigenous people in South Africa. Reflecting on various indigenous informal social security safety methods, the article demonstrates how indigenous communities have used these safety nets and indigenous knowledge systems in their quest to survive against all odds. Informal social security refers to self-organised family, community or informal sector coping mechanisms. The article argues that these tailor-made traditional informal social security practices play an invaluable parallel role in the formal social security systems in South Africa. It is submitted that in many instances, these traditional safety nets serve an important complimentary role to existing formal social security measures for poor communities. The article further contends that this is crucial for poor indigenous peoples’ well-being. Through informal social security initiatives, indigent households in South Africa have lessened the scourge of poverty, unemployment, inequalities, floods, and recently also the negative effects of HIV/AIDS and the COVID-19 pandemic. The article concludes by examining the challenges facing indigenous informal social security systems and makes some recommendations regarding these challenges.