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The Face Of Poverty In South Africa

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The face of poverty:
South Africa’s face of poverty is the 21.5% of South African citizens that are below the poverty line. These people earn less than R501 according to Mr. Pali Lehohla, Statistician-General of Statistics South Africa. According to the South African Regional Poverty Network, 52% of Africans are poor, making them account for 95% of the poor in South African. Coloured’s account for 17% and Indians and whites account for 5%. However according to the World Bank 39% of South Africans are impoverished. These people do not have enough money to meet the minimum daily energy intake, enough money to buy adequate food and other essential needs like money for transport. In most cases these people do not have a home or access to clean running water and electricity. There is however different extremes of poverty and different ways of measuring it. One thing is for sure, Poverty is rife in South Africa.
Causes of South Africa’s poverty: South Africa’s past is entrenched deeply into modern day society and poverty is no different. South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world. The gap between the rich and poor is vast and continues to grow. The legacy of Apartheid can be directly attributed to the poverty and unequal distribution of wealth in South Africa today. Historically Black South Africans were marginalised and excluded from the wealth of South Africa. Racial exclusion and oppression, for example the homeland system that excluded Black people from

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