Globally, more than 800 million people are still living on less than US$1.25 a day, many lacking access to adequate food, clean drinking water and sanitation. The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started, and end poverty in all forms and dimensions by 2030. – United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
What is Poverty?
“A condition where people’s basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met. Poverty is generally of two types: (1) Absolute poverty is synonymous with destitution and occurs when people cannot obtain adequate resources (measured in terms of calories or nutrition) to support a minimum level of physical health. Absolute poverty means about the same everywhere, and can be eradicated as demonstrated by some countries. (2) Relative poverty occurs when people do not enjoy a certain minimum level of living standards as determined by a government (and enjoyed by the bulk of the population) that vary from country to country, sometimes within the same country”. –BusinessDictionary.com
Poverty in South Africa
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) the national statistical service of South Africa has published the most recent poverty indices of the nation. The “Poverty Trends in South Africa” report shows a steady increase of poverty in the country in the year 2015 at 55. 5%; the percentage has increased from the previous series low of 53. 2% in 2011. The Poverty Headcount by Age graph below shows the different age groups and the poverty gaps between them. Graph: Statistics South Africa website
How are SDGs implemented in South Africa
Eradication of poverty is the first of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals identified by the UN; it is an extension of the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) which were phased out in 2015. South Africa, as a member state of the United Nations has an obligation to abide by the Global Goals; and it has done this in the following ways:
- Land Reform and Agriculture
Since 1994 when South Africa became a democratic republic the issue of land reformation policy has been a controversial topic of debate among members of parliament. Opposition political parties like the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) continuously call for expropriation of land without compensation from white land owners by government. This, they believe, will reduce poverty and redress past discrimination by the apartheid government which saw 90% of arable land in South Africa in possession and ownership of the white minority when the 1913 Land Act was first enacted. The Bill of Rights in The Constitution of South Africa states that:
- No one may be deprived of property except in terms of law of general application, and no law may permit arbitrary deprivation of property.
“(2) Property may be expropriated only in terms of law of general application— (a) for a public purpose or in the public interest; and (b) subject to compensation, the amount of which and the time and manner of payment of which have either been agreed to by those affected or decided or approved by a court. “
(3) The amount of the compensation and the time and manner of payment must be just and equitable, reflecting an equitable balance between the public interest and the interests of those affected, having regard to all relevant circumstances, including— (a) the current use of the property; (b) the history of the acquisition and use of the property; (c) the market value of the property; (d) the extent of direct state investment and subsidy in the acquisition and beneficial capital improvement of the property; and (e) the purpose of the expropriation.
(4) For the purposes of this section— (a) the public interest includes the nation’s commitment to land reform, and to reforms to bring about equitable access to all South Africa’s natural resources; and (b) property is not limited to land. – The Bill of Rights: Section 25 (Property), Page 10
Cyril Ramaphosa, the new president of the ruling party recently stated at the ANC’s 54th National Conference in December 2017 that the National Executive Committee (NEC) would start the process of amen