Issued by: Office of the President
5 March 1997
REPORT ON POVERTY AND INEQUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICA
The eradication of poverty and the reduction of inequality remain one of the key challenges confronting the Government of National Unity. The Cabinet, accordingly, approved that a Report on Poverty and Inequality in South Africa be prepared. The preparation of the Report has been awarded (via tender) to a consortium of NGO's and University based researchers.
The Report should be completed before the end of September when a conference on poverty and Inequality in South Africa will be held.
The objectives of the Report are to:
1. Undertake a detailed analysis of poverty and inequality in South Africa: 2. Analyse current policy proposals in an integrative manner which draws out the cross-cutting issues affecting the implementation of the government's policy (as spelled out in the RDP base document) and the reduction of poverty and inequality; 3. Analyse the adequacy of current plans to reduce poverty and inequality and possible barriers to their implementation; and 4. Propose on-going monitoring mechanisms to measure the impact of policies and programmes in the reduction of poverty. In this regard, clear measures will be indicated and the position of women, people in the rural areas and disabled will be highlighted.
The preparation of the Report is being managed by the Office of the Executive Deputy President. Political oversight vests in an Inter-Ministerial Committee comprised of the Ministers of Welfare and Population Development (Chairperson), of Labour, of Trade and Industry, of Water Affairs and Forestry, of Finance, of Health of Housing, for Agriculture and Land Affairs, of Public Works, of Education, the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Executive Deputy President and the Director-General in the Office of the Executive Deputy President.
The study is being funded by the Overseas Development Administration, United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and the Office of the Executive Deputy President.
Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee Minister of Welfare and Population Development