CHINA–SA POVERTY PARTNERSHIP PILOT TAKES SHAPE IN NORTH WEST

By Sello Tang.

• ⁠A research team from the People’s Republic of China is working with the Department of Social Development to pilot a poverty alleviation project in the North West Province.
• ⁠The team was hosted by the department in Pretoria on 5 June 2025 as part of a bilateral cooperation agreement focused on rural poverty alleviation.
• The partnership is aimed at sharing China’s successful strategies in eradicating extreme poverty, with China having officially declared the eradication of extreme poverty within its borders in 2021.

A research team from the People’s Republic of China is working closely with the Department of Social Development to find ways of implementing a Chinese poverty reduction model in the South African context.

The department hosted the high-level delegation in Pretoria on 5 June 2025 as part of a bilateral cooperation agreement focused on rural poverty alleviation.

The agreement includes the rollout of a pilot poverty alleviation project in the Kgomo-Kgomo Village, in the Moretele Local Municipality in the North West Province.

The research team, led by the director of the Department of Economic Cooperation Business in Beijing, Professor Du Zhenli, was in South Africa on a fact-finding mission to explore how a poverty reduction model can be effectively implemented in local contexts.

The visit formed part of a longstanding partnership between the Department of Social Development and the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, aimed at sharing China’s successful strategies in eradicating extreme poverty.

In 2021, China officially declared the eradication of extreme poverty within its borders, having lifted more than 770 million people out of poverty over four decades in a population of 1.4 billion.

This milestone, recognised by the World Bank, was attributed to a series of targeted poverty reduction programmes with a strong emphasis on reaching underserved communities.

Director-General of the Department of Social Development Peter Netshipale officially welcomed the delegation and opened the session by presenting the key programmes of the department and its two agencies, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the National Development Agency.

Netshipale underscored the significance of international collaboration in addressing structural poverty in rural communities.

“The key pillars of our government’s work are grounded in strengthening social protection, accelerating inclusive economic growth and job creation, and reducing poverty in vulnerable communities,” Netshipale said.

“This partnership with China allows us to learn from proven models and adapt them to our local context.”

The Chinese delegation, alongside members of the Department of Social Development’s portfolio technical committee, conducted a three-day feasibility study in Kgomo-Kgomo and surrounding villages – Makapanstad, Kontant, and Moratele.

The study aimed to assess local needs in relation to youth unemployment, skills development, and other socioeconomic challenges.

These insights will guide the design of the pilot project and its possible expansion to neighbouring areas.

During the fact-finding mission, the delegation also engaged with provincial government officials, municipal leaders, and local stakeholders.

One of the key engagements included a courtesy visit to the Traditional Council of Bakgatla-ba-Mosetlha in Makapanstad, reflecting the importance of working collaboratively with traditional authorities in local development initiatives.

As part of its contribution to social relief in the area, SASSA disburses approximately R65-million in social grants every month to households in Ward 21 – home the four villages targeted by the feasibility study.

The pilot initiative is expected to inform future models of rural development in South Africa and could pave the way for broader cooperation between the two countries in the field of poverty eradication.