Government says poverty is dropping

from the Independent On Line

A new governmental report from South Africa has some statistics on poverty in the country. - Kale

The income of the poorest South Africans has improved in real terms over the past 14 years, according to government's 2008 development indicators released on Thursday.

The publication provides "evidence-based pointers" on the impact of government programmes on the lives of South Africans and is published on an annual basis.

According to the document, income inequality has increased because the income of the richest 10 percent of the population has increased at a faster rate.

The percentage of the population earning below R462 a month (2007 rand prices) decreased from 58 percent in 2000 to 48 percent in 2005.

Since 1996, nine million people have been lifted out of poverty and more than 12 million now receive social grants.

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