Ten years of the South African Social Security Agency: the journey 2006-2016

South Africa's non-contributory cash transfer scheme has been heralded for its critical contribution to reducing poverty and inequality, and is a showpiece of its social protection system (World Bank, 2018). The Agency tasked with the management of this system is the South African Social Security Agency which was signed into law in 2004 (Social Security Agency Act No. 9, 2004) together with the South Africa Social Assistance Act No. 13 of 2004, with the latter being the founding legislation for the establishment of the social security agency. Both pieces of legislation were underpinned by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution, which enshrines social protection rights for those who are vulnerable.