Overview of Poverty Situation and Reduction in South Africa for the Past 10 Years

Poverty and inequality are some of the major developmental challenges that are facing South Africa after ten years of democracy. Since 1994, major efforts have been made by the new government to tackle issues with regard to poverty and inequality within the framework of the Growth, Employment Strategy and the Reconstruction and Development programme within the framework of the South African population policy, which is based on the Cairo declaration of 1994. Strategies that the current government has undertaken to address development amongst the disadvantaged are land distribution, Small, Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME's) and the public works programme. However, measures like the Gini Coefficient still indicate that huge inequalities exist among the four racial groups, although a black elite middle class is starting to establish its self. This paper attempts to explain why inequality persists in South Africa, and articulates suggestions for related research to gain a better understanding of the trajectory of poverty in the country.