This paper adds to the growing resource of research reports about the financing of a BIG in South Africa that have proliferated since the start the of pandemicinduced recession in 2020.

Using case studies from Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific and the Arab States this paper not only adds to the growing research on social protection and COVID-19 but advocates for the implementation of UBI grants as a first
response in addressing the vulnerability experienced by people in not only in emergency contexts but as a general
protective measure.

This exercise encourages public accountability in support of the constitutional commitment to advance socio-economic rights. The relationship between the positive duties of the State in Sections 26(2) and 27(2) and the general limitations clause is a complex one. However, the State's positive duties are defined in terms of the adoption of reasonable measures, as we will see in the following section. If the State's conduct or omissions are found to be unreasonable at the outset of the constitutional inquiry, it is difficult to imagine situations in which it could still succeed in establishing a reasonable limitation of the right under Section 36.

This paper’s objective is to inform South African debates about the feasibility of introducing a Basic Income Guarantee (BIG).

Social Security Spring Symposium 21 November 2022.