Nine million lifted from SA poverty

from the Dispatch

Here are more details from the government report on poverty in South Africa that was released last week. It also shows that there was a rapid increase in Tuberculosis cases. - 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 last week.

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% of the population has increased at a faster rate than the rest of the country.

The per capita analysis shows an improvement in the incomes of the poorest 10% – rising from R783 a month in 1993 to R1032 in 2007, in 2007 rand terms.

The percentage of people living in poverty (R462 a month or less) declined from 58% in 2000 to 48% in 2005.

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

About 2.6 million subsidised houses have been completed or are in progress, providing shelter to some 8.8 million people.

Altogether 87.2% of households have access to water at the RDP standard or above, compared to 61% in 1994, 73% have access to sanitation (50% in 1994), and 72% have access to electricity (51% in 1994).

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