A MISSION TO ERADICATE POVERTY AND IMPROVE LIVELIHOODS

Cuma Pantshwa

• The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to eradicate extreme poverty globally, and in post-apartheid South Africa, addressing the legacy of poverty remains a top priority for the government.
• A roundtable discussion in Cape Town, hosted by the Department of Social Development (DSD), focused on connecting social protection beneficiaries to sustainable livelihood opportunities.
• The “Generating Better Livelihoods for Grants Recipients Project,” a pilot initiative involving collaboration with FinMark Trust and BRAC International, aims to empower families receiving child support grants by linking them to skills and job opportunities.

Eradicating extreme poverty for all people everywhere by 2030 is a pivotal goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In post-apartheid South Africa, combating the legacy of poverty and underdevelopment has always been a central theme for the government.

A roundtable discussion hosted by the Department of Social Development (DSD) convened in Cape Town today, bringing together representatives from various organisations to discuss linking social protection beneficiaries to sustainable livelihood opportunities. In his welcoming remarks, Mr Alfa Mahlako, Chief Director of Sustainable Livelihoods at the DSD, set the scene and purpose of the day by stating, “We are collectively here to address the challenges our country faces in empowering vulnerable communities. Let us engage on the pathways and partnerships necessary to successfully link social protection beneficiaries to sustainable livelihoods.”

Emphasising the importance of South Africa’s social protection programmes in alleviating poverty among the poor and vulnerable, Mr Mahlako highlighted the need for a comprehensive approach to sustainable livelihoods. He asserted that social protection beneficiaries should thrive beyond mere protection and social assistance programmes, particularly social grants, which are the largest contributor. “I want to emphasise that social protection is a constitutional obligation, and our department remains committed to protecting the poor and vulnerable against vulnerabilities. However, our framework recognises that protection alone is insufficient. We must provide the necessary support to enable individuals to become self-sufficient and provide for themselves and their families. This roundtable aims to explore ways to achieve this objective.”

Under the theme “Acting Together to Empower Children, Their Families and Communities to End Poverty,” the roundtable discussion will outline the framework and objectives of the pilot project named the “Generating Better Livelihoods for Grants Recipients Project,” aimed at linking child support grants to sustainable livelihoods. This initiative, which will be piloted in three provinces, namely; Kwazulu-Natal, Free-State and Gauteng, is implemented by the Department of Social Development in partnership with FinMark Trust and BRAC International. It aims to provide skills and job opportunities to improve lives and reduce reliance on grants as the only means of support.

“South Africa is a country with extreme inequality. We must understand where we are, and we must discuss how we want to move forward in the next five years,” said Mpho Mngxitama, Acting Director-General for Community Development at the Department of Social Development.

The programme for the day will include presentations from SASSA, FinMark Trust, and the Human Sciences Research Council, among others, anchored on the principle that people are the drivers of their own development and collectively tackle strategies geared towards overcoming poverty.

“This initiative demonstrates the government’s commitment to empowering vulnerable communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods. By providing opportunities for skills development and job creation, South Africa can move closer to achieving its goal of reducing poverty and inequality,” said Ms Ngxithama.