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South Africa has one of the largest social security systems, which has been lauded by the Constitutional Court as an important achievement of the post-apartheid government. The livelihoods of millions of poor people, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas, have come to depend on it. The distribution of social grants continues to contribute significantly towards alleviating poverty and inequality. However, during the Zuma era, the social security system came under brazen attack, enabled by the alleged complicity of those in political power.

Hands Off Our Grants is more than a grim tale of state capture. The book details how the Black Sash’s Hands Off Our Grants (Hoog) campaign, supported by civil society organisations, mobilised behind beneficiaries to reclaim their constitutional rights to social security.

It is also an important reminder that accomplishing a fair and just society needs citizens who are prepared to take a stand together.