In 2015, all United Nations (U.N.) members adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which outlines 17 Goals in an urgent call to action by all states. The primary focus was on poverty reduction, sustainability, hygiene education and quality education. In 2019, the South African government finalized the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2020-25, which includes a multidisciplinary approach to tackling poverty in South Africa through consultation with civil society, academia, the private sector and others.

No Poverty

Goal 1, No Poverty, is a priority for many nations because of its pressing nature. Goal 1 includes eradicating all extreme poverty, to ensure people are living on at least $1.25, the benchmark, per day. In South Africa, there has been concern, as elsewhere in the continent, that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed more people into poverty and has created more inequality between the rich and the poor.

The World Bank estimates that poverty in South Africa was 63% in 2022, based on the upper-middle-income country poverty line. Severe electricity shortages caused by ‘power rationing’ by the government of up to nine hours per day have also impacted and halted the economy since many sectors such as IT, water and service delivery cannot function. Alongside this, South Africa’s history of Apartheid still lingers today through inequality and poverty. For example, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report by UNICEF revealed that Black children were almost seven times more likely to live in poverty.

Taking Action

The South African government has taken some steps toward poverty reduction in South Africa. In 2012, the government adopted Vision 2030, a National Development Plan (NDP) aiming to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality by 2030. In the NDP, 74% of the SDG targets are directly addressed, showing a good alignment of the plan in tackling poverty in South Africa.

Focus areas of the National Development Plan included poverty reduction in South Africa, alongside the creation of employment and sustainability. The government administered financial assistance to around 17 million people, including grants to pensions, child support, disability and more, within the NDP. Despite these attempts, poverty continues to persist.

The Intervention of Charity Organizations

Charities have also been extremely important in realizing and helping to implement the SDGs. The Borgen Project spoke with Iris Salemi, an International Intern for the charity Where Rainbows Meet, who spent a month working in South Africa and witnessing first-hand the impact of poverty. Where Rainbows Meet provides weekly computer, sewing, gardening and business lessons, alongside CV and child education workshops to increase the employability of young people in the Vrygrond area in Cape Town. Daily power cuts have hindered the ability of charities such as Where Rainbows Meet to carry out crucial work that impacts poverty reduction in South Africa. For example, charities cannot provide computers during power cuts, the kitchen is out of use and the education programs cannot happen without electrical power. For Iris, charities need more government support in order to fight unemployment in a community-based manner.

Other charities also operate and work to reduce poverty in South Africa with the SDGs in mind. These include Nkosi’s Haven, which supports HIV-infected mothers and children through residential and holistic care and provides education to affected communities. For example, it developed Nkosi’s Haven Village, a 2.5-acre plot of land south of Johannesburg that accommodates 22 mothers and 121 children. Operation Hunger also operates in the country and provides food parcels all over South Africa for the most vulnerable. While these are just a few examples, they show the meaningful and crucial ongoing work to address poverty-related issues in South Africa in line with the SDGs.

The Interlinkage of the SDGs

The connection and overlapping of the SDGs are extremely important in addressing multidimensional poverty. For example, quality education (Goal 4) is linked to reducing poverty (Goal 1), as is decent work (Goal 8) and reduced inequalities (Goal 10). Salemi outlined this during her work in the Vrygrond community, saying that “tackling youth education is, as I see it, the most effective way to fight poverty”.

In South Africa, the 2020 multidimensional poverty report revealed that, as of 2021, 50% of individuals aged 15 to 24 were without employment. In her research, Salemi discovered that many individuals grappled with issues related to self-confidence, belief in their abilities and a lack of understanding about what constitutes success. For instance, some young learners struggled to discern the value of education, while others found themselves drawn into negative influences such as gangs. Additional factors contributing to this predicament encompass subpar educational opportunities and skill development, insufficient career guidance within educational institutions and the financial burdens associated with job-seeking, particularly for those residing in rural regions.

Where Rainbows Meet set up workshops in order to help more young people realize their ambitions and see their own value. With better work opportunities and quality education, there is hope for achieving poverty reduction. The role of the government and the work local charities do are consequently imperative in helping South Africa achieve the SDGs.

Taytin’s Experience

The interlinkage of the SDGs is shown in the case of Taytin, whom Iris met during her internship. Coming from a family engaged in drugs and gangs, Taytin’s only option to avoid engagement in this was the street, where he, his brother and father spent all of Taytin’s childhood. Taytin went to Where Rainbows Meet and is now a computer teacher at the charity, and Iris states, “he has helped so many kids and so many adults find a brighter path.” This personal story allows one to observe the importance of achieving the SDGs, all of which influence each other.

Looking Ahead

The pursuit of the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a complex and urgent task. Exacerbated by the pandemic, its historical inequalities and electricity shortages, South Africa faces challenges in reducing poverty. Charities have made meaningful and impactful strides toward addressing poverty-related issues, in line with the SDGs. In addressing poverty and implementing the framework necessary for its alleviation, South Africa can work toward meeting many of the other SDGs simultaneously, as underscored by the work of charities in the country.

– Rosie Lyons
Photo: Flickr