17 October, 2001
The Minister of Social Development Dr. Zola Skweyiya has urged the business community in South Africa to Mark International Day for the Eradication of Poverty by rededicating itself to work tirelessly and in partnership with all sectors to eliminate poverty in communities paying special attention to children.
"I call on the business sector in particular to mobilise the huge resources at its disposal to fight poverty and social exclusion especially amongst children and women. We can all give meaning to the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty to relentlessly fight to eliminate the scourge of poverty. Business has a critical role to play in this regard, the Minister said.
The Minister will address a Corporate Investment Forum on poverty and its social impact at the Sandton Convention Centre today (17/10/01) at 19:00.
The event is expected to be attended by hundreds of representatives from the business community.
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is celebrated annually throughout the world.
It is a day when governments, civil society, NGO's, CBO's, etc. take stock of the progress they have made to meet the challenges they face in the fight against poverty.
It is estimated that approximately 19 million people still live in poverty in our country with women and children in rural areas being the worst affected.
Consequently, the government in general and the Department of Social Development in particular have placed the fight against poverty as its top priority in all its policies and programmes.
Issued by : Ministry of Social Development